LAKELAND, FLA.-- It wasn't looking good at the half.  After being down by as much as 17 points, the Southeastern women's basketball team came back to down the University of St. Francis Cougars, 68-64.
 
The game was close in the first period as the two teams were knotted at 21 going into the second period.  In the second period, the shooting for the Fire (6-3) went cold as the Fire went 0-8 from the arc.  The Cougars (4-4) outscored the Fire 23-10 to take a 44-31 lead to the locker room.  
 
Defense was the name of the game in the third period.  The Fire went on a 17-4 run that was topped off with a brief 50-48 lead on a Christin Strawbridge layup.  During the run, Carlie Newman kicked into her second gear as she came up with three consecutive steals.
 
Going into the final period, the Fire were down by one, 54-53.  Southeastern immediately took the lead on a pair of successful free throws by Strawbridge.  With 4:51 to go, the Cougars came back to make it a one-point game, but two more free throws by Bailey Hooker gave the Fire a three-point lead that they wouldn't relinquish.  

?Strawbridge finished with a double-double, as she scored 20 and brought down 13 rebounds.  Newman had one of her best games of the season as well, as her 14 rebounds, seven points, four assists, and four steals came during clutch moments.  Hooker and Alyssa Ramos each recorded 12 points, and Ali Sanders finished with 11.  
 
The Fire are going up to Mt. Vernon, Georgia on Monday to take on Brewton-Parker College.  Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. ?