LAKELAND, Fla. – Last season's run for the Southeastern University women's basketball team was remarkable and historic. The Fire set a new high mark in season wins (28), won their second consecutive Sun Conference Championship, and made their deepest NAIA National Tournament run in program history. SEU advanced to the quarterfinals before bowing out to top seeded Marian University 81-67.
The Fire will be tasked with replacing 83% of their points from last season. Southeastern graduated five seniors from last season's squad, including four of their five starters.
Bailey Hooker was The Sun Conference Player of the Year last season. Hooker led the conference in points per game last season (17.9), shot 42.5% from behind the arc (93-219), and was the first player in program history to be named a First Team NAIA Women's Basketball Division II All-American.
SEU will also be without
Christin Strawbridge, who was the 2015-16 Sun Conference Player of the Year. Strawbridge averaged 13.9 points and 6.3 rebounds per game last season en route to being named The Sun Conference Tournament MVP and a Second Team NAIA Women's Basketball All-American.
Alyssa Ramos is another Fire starter who graduated. Ramos averaged five assists per contest, totaling 145 helpers last season. She was also Second Team All-Sun Conference.
Sarah Green rounds out the group of non-returning starters. Green was The Sun Conference Defensive Player of the Year, leading the conference and ranking second in NAIA DII with 86 blocks on the year.
Senior guard
Ana Richter is the lone returning starter for Southeastern. Richter averaged 28.2 minutes, 11.2 points, and 5.5 rebounds per game. The Oxford, Ohio native also led the team in steals with 68, was Second Team All-Sun Conference, and earned placement on This Sun Conference All-Tournament team.
"Ana is extremely valuable. She embodies the core culture that we want to build both on the court and off. With as many new players as we have its important that we carry over the things that made us great as a team last season," shared Head Coach
Tim Hays, who enters his second season at the helm of the program.
SEU welcomes 11 newcomers to this year's unit, including three NCAA Division I transfers and a pair of Division II transfers.
One of the top new faces for Southeastern is junior guard
Elsa Paulsson-Glantz. The Salt Lake Community College transfer and Lulea, Sweden native played for Team Sweeden in World University Games during summer.
Junior guard
Halee Printz also joins the Fire after playing in 64 games in two years at Toledo.
Junior guard
Jaycee Coe, a two time Class A Miss Tennessee Basketball transfer from Kentucky, and 6-7 sophomore center
Marlena Schmidt, a West Virginia transfer, round out the group of key newcomers.
"We were well aware that we had a big task ahead of us replacing such strong seniors from last year's team. I believe the girls that have joined the team this year have showed that they will be able replace the size, skill and depth that we lost," commented Coach Hays.
The Fire were voted to win their third consecutive Sun Conference title in the preseason coaches' poll.
Southeastern takes on NCAA Division II St. Leo University in an exhibition tomorrow night. Tipoff is set for 6:00 p.m.
The Fire's home opener takes place on November 6 versus the University of the Virgin Islands at 6:00 p.m.
"We will be successful this season if we play with purpose and passion," remarked Coach Hays.
