LAKELAND, Fla. – With three of its final four games coming on the road, the No. 1 Southeastern University women's basketball team packs its bags for a two-game Sun Conference slate in Georgia. The Fire take on Coastal Georgia on Thursday before heading over to Thomasville to face Thomas on Saturday.
GAMES: Coastal Georgia (16-4, 11-7 TSC) vs. No. 1 Southeastern (23-0, 14-0 TSC) Thursday 6:00 p.m.
Thomas (8-13, 4-11 TSC) vs. No. 1 Southeastern (23-0, 14-0 TSC) Saturday 2:00 p.m.
COVERAGE: Coastal Georgia:
Live Video/Stats Thomas:
Live Video/Stats
FIRE ON TOP: The Fire made history this past Tuesday when they were ranked as the top team in the NAIA Division II Women's Basketball Coaches' Poll. This marked the first time in SEU Athletics' history that a program received a number one NAIA national ranking. The Fire are the last remaining unbeaten women's basketball team in either division of NAIA women's basketball. Statistically, Southeastern is number one in NAIA DII in scoring defense per game (51.9), field goal percentage defense (.305), field goal percentage (.518), and assists per game (22.6).
EMMA KARAMATIC: Junior small forward
Emma Karamovic has been dialed in from three point range as of late. The Boras, Sweden native is fresh off a season high seven three pointers made and 26 points scored versus Ave Maria, both season highs. Over her last six contests, Karamovic is shooting 51.2% from behind the arc (22-43), a stark improvement from the 24.1% (7-29) in the six games prior to this stretch.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS: The Fire were victorious over the Mariners earlier this season in the first ever meeting between the two programs. Senior guard
Ana Richter led all scorers with 26 points and eight rebounds in the 84-55 SEU win. Richter totaled 28 versus the Night Hawks in Southeastern's 62-38 win in The Furnace back on January 4. The Fire held Thomas to just 26.5% shooting from the field, taking a 7-2 lead in the all-time series.
THE MARINERS: Currently sitting third in the TSC standings, Coastal Georgia is looking to build momentum heading into the conference tournament. The Mariners were winners of four straight before dropping two of their last three in conference action. CCG is second highest scoring offense in The Sun Conference to SEU, averaging 72.7 points per game. Junior forward Brianna Gipson earned TSC Player of the Week honors after posting consecutive double-double efforts. Gipson scored 16 points and grabbed 15 rebounds versus Webber International before posting 27 points and hauling in 11 boards versus Warner.
THE NIGHT HAWKS: Thomas snapped a five game skid last week with a pair of wins over Warner and Webber International. Junior forward De'Audra Copeland was a major key to Thomas getting back on track. The Manchester, Ga. native averaged 12.5 points and 7.5 rebounds in just over 25 minutes per game last week. Getting the ball to the rim continues to be a struggle for Thomas, who is averaging just 59.5 points per game this season, the second lowest mark in the conference. The Night Hawks continue to defend the perimeter well, having allowed opponents to convert just 26.8% of their three point attempts (19-71) over their last five games.
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