LAKELAND, Fla.—The 3-point shot was the key to Southeastern's 49
th consecutive regular season win.
Southeastern (23-0) was 14-of-22 as a team from bonus range to defeat Ave Maria 98-47 Saturday night.
The Fire finished the night 10% better from beyond the arc (62.5%) than they did from inside it (52.2%).
Leading the charge from long range was junior
Emma Karamovic, who was 7-of-10 on 3-point attempts, finishing with a career-high 26 points, six rebounds, and three steals. Her third 3-ball of the first quarter just before the buzzer gave the Fire a 26-4 lead after 10 minutes of play.
To go along with the outside shooting, the Fire played stifling defense, holding the Gyrenes (18-6) to just 22% from the field and 1-of-8 from 3-point range in the first half to take a 43-17 lead at the intermission.
Leading the defense,
Ana Richter and
Halee Printz each had five steals. Both also contributed on the offensive end with Printz going 8-of-9 from the field with 19 points, eight assists, and four rebounds. Richter scored 16 points, hauled in eight rebounds, and dished out five assists.
The SEU defense forced a total of 23 turnovers on the night, leading to 23 points.
An additional force on defense was
Marlena Schmidt, holding leading scorer Sarah Miller to 15 points and just two rebounds, and forced nine turnovers. Miller has averaged 11 rebounds per game against Sun Conference teams. On the offensive end, Schmidt recorded her first double-double of the season with 12 points and 14 rebounds. The sophomore also had five assists and three blocks.
Southeastern cranked it up even more in the third quarter, outscoring Ave Maria 32-16. That's when
Jaycee Coe came alive, knocking down three 3-pointers in the second half to finish with 14 points.
After 30 minutes of play, Southeastern led 75-33.
The Fire are the last remaining unbeaten women's basketball team in either division of NAIA women's basketball, and one of just six in all of four-year college women's basketball.
Southeastern will now embark on a three-game road trip, starting Thursday at Coastal Georgia.
