PHOENIX, Ariz.- An inspired second-half performance was not enough for the Fire to come back from a tough start, as the No. 2 Southeastern University women's basketball team fell to the No. 3 Concordia (Neb.) University Bulldogs 59-51 in their first of two contests to be played in Phoenix this weekend. This marks the first time SEU has lost consecutive regular season games since 12/30/14 and 1/3/15.
SEU held its only lead of the contest with 8:38 to go in the first quarter, with a 5-3 advantage over CU. After that point, the Bulldogs capitalized on a 17-0 run to take a 20-5 lead over the Fire with 2:05 to go in the first period.
The Bulldogs continued to defend the Fire well going into the second quarter, especially from the perimeter. SEU mustered just two points in the second period and were 0-13 from three-point range throughout the first half as a whole.
Southeastern trailed Concordia 31-12 at the half, the largest first-half deficit for SEU since the Fire trailed St. Thomas by 23 at intermission on 2/15/13.
The Fire came out of the locker room determined to fight back into the contest. SEU opened the second half on a 13-1 run to cut the deficit to 32-27 with 4:38 to go in the third quarter.
Senior guard
Elsa Paulsson-Glantz scored six of her 11 points in the third quarter. Paulsson Glantz also grabbed 10 rebounds on the night for her second double-double of the season.
Junior center
Marlena Schmidt also was a catalyst for SEU rallying in the second half. Schmidt scored 11 of her team high 14 points and recorded four of her five blocks in the second half.
The Fire trailed the Bulldogs 42-33 heading to the final period of play.
SEU trimmed the CU lead to five once again in the fourth quarter, but a 7-0 Concordia run midway through the period put the contest out of reach.
Despite struggling to find an offensive rhythm of their own, the Fire still turned in a respectable defensive effort, holding the Bulldogs to just 28.4% from the field, including 20% from behind the arc.
The Fire look to bounce back tomorrow afternoon, as they take on No. 21 NAIA Division I Arizona Christian. Tip-off is set for 4:00 p.m. eastern.
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