LAKELAND, Fla. – The No. 3 Southeastern University women's basketball team is beginning to find a rhythm in the early goings of the 2018-19 season. The Fire are coming off a pair of dominant Sun Conference wins with a 90-58 win over Johnson & Wales at home, followed by a 109-47 thrashing of Keiser on the road. Southeastern now turns its attention to a home contest against receiving votes Ave Maria, the only other team in the conference besides SEU that is 4-0 in TSC action. The contest has been selected as The Sun Conference Game of the Week.
GAMES:
No. 3 Southeastern (8-0, 4-0 TSC) vs. RV Ave Maria (11-1, 4-0 TSC) Thursday 5:30 p.m.
COVERAGE:
WATCH/LIVE STATS
FIRE FOCUS:
- As a team, the Fire rank second in NAIA Division II in Assist/Turnover Ratio (1.647), scoring margin (28.25), and assists per game (21). SEU also ranks fourth in steals per game (16.125), sixth in three point field goals made per game (10.125), and ninth in team field goal percentage (.457).
- Senior shooting guard Makenzie Cann is coming off her most prolific shooting performance of the season, as she was 12-13 from the field, including 5-5 from behind the arc, to total 31 points versus Keiser. Cann has also recorded five or more steals in three straight outings.
- Senior small forward Elsa Paulsson-Glantz has totaled 20 or more points in five of her last six games played.
- After not reaching double digits in the first four contests of the season, senior small forward Emma Karamovic has been a double-digit scorer in four straight games.
- Junior center Marlena Schmidt has registered a block in ever match-up for SEU thus far.
SOAK UP THE SUN:
- The Fire also hold a streak of 46 consecutive victories over Sun Conference opponents.
- The last Sun Conference loss for SEU came on 2/10/16 versus Thomas (70-64, also team's last regular season loss).
- Southeastern has outscored conference opponents on average 84-51.59 during that stretch (3,864-2,373), a margin of 32.41 points per contest.
- SEU looks to clinch its fourth-straight Sun Conference Regular Season Championship this season.
ALL-TIME SERIES:
- The Fire have a chance to even up the all-time series versus the Gyrenes, as they trail 12-11.
- Southeastern has won six-straight against Ave Maria, having not lost to AMU since a 60-59 defeat in The Sun Conference Tournament on 2/24/15.
- Karamovic recorded a career-high 26 point outing (7-10 3PT) versus the Gyrenes in the two programs' most recent meeting.
THE GYRENES:
- The Gyrenes have responded to a 72-65 loss to Point Park on 11/8 by rattling off six straight wins.
- The 11-1 start by Ave Maria this season is the best start in program history.
- AMU features the top scoring defense in NAIA DII women's basketball, limiting opponents to just 47 points per game, and limiting teams they face to a cumulative .317 shooting percentage.
- Ave Maria out-rebounds opponents by an average margin of 12.667, which ranks fifth in the country.
- Standout junior forward Sarah Miller is a major reason for the defensive success of the Gyrens thus far. Miller leads the country in rebounds per game (14.5) and with 19 points per game, has posted nine double-doubles this season.
- After being held to nine points in the season opener, sophomore guard Danielle Weinmann has been a double-digit scorer in every contest for AMU.
TALE OF THE TAPE:
SEU
Points per Game: 83
Opponents Points per Game: 54.8
Field Goal %: .457
3PT %: .367
FT%: .729
Rebounds per Game: 38.375
Turnovers per Game: 12.75
Individual PPG Leader:
Elsa Paulsson-Glantz (19.6)
Individual Rebounds per Game Leader:
Marlena Schmidt (7)
Individual Assists per Game Leader:
Halee Printz (6.5)
Individual Blocks per Game Leader:
Marlena Schmidt (2)
AMU
Points per Game: 73.917
Opponents Points per Game: 47
Field Goal %: .435
3PT %: .320
FT%: .664
Rebounds per Game: 41.583
Turnovers per Game: 14
Individual PPG Leader: Sarah Miller (19)
Individual Rebounds per Game Leader: Sarah Miller (14.5)
Individual Assists per Game Leader: Emily Acosta (3.42)
Individual Blocks per Game Leader: Amanda Kasprzak (1.25)
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