Box Score LAKELAND, FLA.– The Fire women's basketball team improved to 8-4 on the season with a close win over the Tennessee Temple University Crusaders Monday night, 70-69.
Sophomore Alyssa Ramos led the way, raking in 25 points and bringing in five rebounds. She shot 5-of-10 from the 3-point line, furthering her status as one of the best shooters in the NAIA. She hit a couple free throws near the end of the first half to give the Fire a 10-point lead going into the locker room, 35-25.
A Ramos 3-pointer extended the SEU lead to a game-high 22 with 17:32 left in the game, but the Crusaders (3-8) were able to close the gap as the final minutes approached with a 17-2 run.
Amanda Rector led the Crusaders in scoring with 22; her 3-point basket with 11 seconds left in the game cut the Fire lead to 2 points. With the Fire holding on to the two-point lead, Carlie Newman hit a couple clutch free throws with six seconds left to put the game out of reach.
As the buzzer sounded, Kristiana Purvis hit a fade-away 3-pointer that banked off the backboard to cut the Crusader deficit to one point to end the game.
"A win was much needed, but give Tennessee Temple a lot of credit for their amazing comeback in the second half," said Coach Jody Martinez. "We continue to make some poor timing mistakes and lose our flow because of it."
Sophomore Bailey Hooker added 19 points for the Fire, while Destynee Arnold led the team in rebounding, grabbing six. Jacqueline Sweasey scored nine points, all of them from beyond the arch.
The Fire will take the court again on Tuesday night at 6pm, as they host the Silver Lake College Lakers.
