LAKELAND, Fla - The Fire's defense set the standard this afternoon in defeating the St. Joseph's Monks 82-40.
After a slow start, all aspects of the Fire's game improved. Southeastern went on to score 23 and 26 points respectively in the second and third quarters, while at the same time holding the Monks to single digit points.
Southeastern was able to exploit the poor ball security of the Monks by generating 34 turnovers. Ana Richter proved to be an unstoppable defensive force, to whom the Monks could find no answer. The 6'1" guard recorded a season high 12 steals in the game. Richter also contributed to the Fire's scoring efforts, logging eight points and collecting nine rebounds.
As the result of St. Joseph's 34 turnovers, the Fire generated 32 points. Leading the offensive charge for Southeastern this afternoon was the senior from Lutz, Florida, Bailey Hooker. Hooker shot 42% from the field, recording 17 points.
The Fire's own Christin Strawbridge and Sarah Green both played big roles down low with regards to the 36 points scored inside the paint. Strawbridge, the Florida Southern transfer, tallied 15 points. Green, the senior native of Columbia, South Carolina, finished the game with 10 points in 21 minutes of play.
Due to Southeastern's lack of action for 11 days and, in order to regain rhythm on the court, Coach Tim Hays moved players in and out of the contest. Twelve Fire players saw action on the court today and, as a collective group, the bench generated 27 points.
A Fire team, which ranks 6th in scoring margin in all of NAIA DII, far exceeded their 24.27 average margin of victory in this afternoon's game. Even when the team does not have all cylinders of its game functioning effectively, the Fire continually find a way to win games.
The Fire will take to the court again in a conference matchup against Johnson & Wales University, in North Miami, on Thursday, January 5th.
