LAKELAND, Fla. – After an impressive 84-55 win over the Saint Leo University Lions in its season opener, the new-look No. 4 Southeastern University women's basketball team looks to continue to make strides during the onset of the 2017-18 campaign. The Fire make their first road trip of the season this weekend with a pair of games in New Orleans versus two NAIA Division I opponents.
GAMES: No. 20 (DI) Loyola (La.) (0-0) vs. No. 4 (DII) Southeastern (1-0) Saturday 2:00 p.m. | RV (DI) Xavier (La.) (0-0) vs. No. 4 (DII) Southeastern (1-0) Sunday 2:00 p.m.
COVERAGE: Loyola:
Live Video/Stats Xavier:
Stats
RICHTER SCALE: As the lone returning starter from last year's squad, senior guard
Ana Richter turned in an impact performance in the season opener. Richter led all scorers with 16 points, shooting 6-13 from the field. The Oxford, Ohio native also tallied four assists and three steals. Richter has now posted eight consecutive double digit scoring efforts for Southeastern.
FIRE BENCH: SEU received a trio of 10 point contributions off the bench versus Saint Leo. Senior forward
Anissa Toumi was a perfect 4-4 from the field in 18 minutes of play. Sophomore forward
Trisha Jacobs posted the first double digit game of her collegiate career while adding three helpers. Graduate guard
Maja Michalska led the fire in steals with four on the night to accompany her 10 point performance.
FIRE FIRSTS: This marks the first time the SEU has faced Loyola or Xavier since joining the NAIA in 2009.
THE WOLF PACK: Loyola earned its fourth consecutive appearance in the NAIA National Tournament, posting a 26-7 record. The Wolf Pack's 25 regular season wins were a program best for the Southern States Athletic Conference runners-up. Loyola is tasked with replacing the winningest senior class in program history, three of which were starters. The Wolf Pack do return two First Team All-SSAC players in senior guards Zoie Miller and Di'Mond Jackson. Miller led the team in steals last season with 69 while Jackson topped the squad in assists with 133. Miller led all scorers with 23 points in the Wolf Pack's 76-45 season opening win over Xavier last night.
THE GOLD NUGGETS: Xavier women's basketball enters its 40
th season during the Title IX era. The Golden Nuggets finished second in the Gulf Coast Athletic conference, posting a 19-13 record last season. Sophomore guard Maya Trench is the leading returning scorer for Xavier after averaging 6.9 points per game last season. Sophomore guard Essence Wells was the lone double digit scorer for the Gold Nuggets in their season opening loss to Loyola, totaling 11 points.
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