Richmond, Ind. – The No. 3 Southeastern University women's basketball team picked up where they left off last season, earning a resounding 72-51 win in their 2018-19 season opener over the RV IU East Red Wolves in the First Bank Richmond Classic. This marked the fifth straight season opener won by SEU.
With the victory, the Fire extended their streak of consecutive regular season games won to 54.
With 8:11 to go in the first quarter, senior forward
Elsa Paulsson-Glantz scored the first Fire points of the season, a jumper that put SEU ahead 2-0.
Both teams struggled to protect the ball in the first half, with a combined 21 turnovers (13 IU East, 8 SEU) in the first 20 minutes of play.
There were eight total lead changes in the first half, with the largest lead of that stretch being three points by either team.
Senior guard Hailee Printz was steady for the Fire in the first half, helping SEU keep pace with IU East. Printz scored 10 of her 18 points and dished out six of her nine assists in the first half.
The Fire took a 32-29 into halftime.
"I think in the first half we just needed to get the first game tension out of our system," shared head coach
Tim Hays.
Southeastern came out and capitalized on second half adjustments, outscoring the Red Wolves 19-8 in the third quarter.
Senior guard
Jaycee Coe heated up in the second half, scoring 16 of her 24 points in the final 20 minutes of action and finishing 5-10 from three point range on the day. As a team, the Fire shot 47.7% from behind the arc (9-19).
"In the second half, we focused on making sure shooters were contested sooner," remarked Hays. "We used our length more effectively getting deflections and steals and were able to get out and attack in transition better."
SEU scored 21 points off turnovers on the night.
The Fire grew their lead to as many as 23 in the fourth quarter.
Southeastern caps off its participation in The First Bank Richmond Classic tomorrow at noon, as the Fire take on the No. 15 Indiana Wesleyan Wildcats.
"We certainly have to step up and play sharper tomorrow against a very good Indiana Wesleyan team," added Hays.
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