LAKELAND, Fla. – On a night where every player on the active roster scored, the No. 7 Southeastern University Fire defeated the Johnson & Wales University Wildcats 96-53. The 96 points was a season high for the Fire.
"I was very proud of the fact that we were able to get everybody on the scoreboard tonight. It's always a big picture goal for us to get everybody an opportunity to score and prove themselves," shared Head Coach
Tim Hays
SEU shrugged off a slow start in the early minutes of the first quarter by stringing together a 14-3 run from the 6:26 to 3:35 mark. Senior guard
Bailey Hooker helped propel the Fire to a strong finish in the period, scoring 11 first quarter points.
Hooker finished the game leading all scorers with 26 points, while going 10-13 from the field including 4-6 from behind the arc. The Lutz native also tied her season high in assists with five.
SEU locked down on defense in the second quarter. The Fire limited the Wildcats to 20% shooting from the field (3-15), including 0-8 from three point range, to outscore JWU 27-8. Southeastern has outscored opponents an average of 21.2-10.9 and held them to a cumulative 27.5% shooting from the field in the second quarter this season.
The Fire took a 56-22 lead into the half.
SEU received hustle all across the board in the second half, as nine different players had a field goal made during the final 20 minutes.
Graduate guard
Cassidy Block recorded her sixth double digit scoring game of the season with 12 points to go along with seven boards. Junior guard
Ana Richter scored 11 while contributing six helpers and four steals. Senior forward
Victoria Trowbridge was a double digit scorer for the first time this season with 10 points including a pair of three point plays.
Southeastern also received very balanced games from senior forward
Sarah Green and junior guard
Jenny Dee. Green scored seven while hauling in eight rebounds and rejecting four shot attempts. Dee also scored seven, accompanied by six boards, six assists, and five steals.
The Wildcats were never able to cut the deficit to any less than 32 during the second half.
The Fire will look to close out the regular season unbeaten, as the host Florida Memorial University on Saturday for Senior Day. Tipoff is set for 5 p.m.
