Box Score LAKELAND, Fla. – Fire women's basketball graduated to double-digit Sun Conference wins this evening by taking down the Ave Maria Gyrenes 59-51. With the win, they move to 10-2 in the league and 19-4 overall.
Southeastern struggled to gain control in the first quarter as the Gyrenes led or matched through seven and a half minutes. A
Christin Strawbridge bucket courtesy of a Gyrenes turnover gave the Fire their first lead of the night, up 12-10 with the quarter ending 12-11.
The Gyrenes scored four straight points to kick off the second quarter but the Fire quickly answered with five unanswered to make it 17-15 at the 7:24 mark. Ave Maria sophomore Jamine Bateman connected on two free throws to knot it at 17 before the Fire took over for good on an
Ali Sanders connection. After 20 minutes the Fire were up 28-21.
The Fire continued to pull away in the third and an 8-0 run catalyzed their largest lead of the game, up 14, 41-27 at the 4:20 mark. They enjoyed the same cushion twice more before the 30 minute horn.
Those 14 points dwindled to one when the Gyrenes took the final 10 minutes and ran. They scored the first two points of a 13-2 run with 13 seconds to play in the third then accelerated through the fourth until 50-49 showed with 4:24 to play. Six of the Fire's final nine points were from the line.
Sanders led all scorers with 15 points. She also notched seven rebounds, two steals and an assist in the win. Strawbridge backed her up with 13 points and 11 boards, good for her 13
th double-double of the season.
Carlie Newman and
Bailey Hooker were also in double figures with 12 and 10 points, respectively.
Southeastern will hit the road once again on Saturday, this time to challenge the Lions of Florida Memorial. The game will be held at Johnson & Wales' Wildcat Center in North Miami at 2 p.m.
