LAKELAND, Fla. – With 11 remaining Sun Conference contests on the 2018-19 slate, the No. 2 Southeastern University women's basketball team is set to delve into the heart of the conference schedule. The Fire, who have captured three consecutive TSC Regular Season and Tournament Championships, are coming off a 2-0 sweep in The Peach State, taking care of Thomas and Coastal Georgia with stout defensive efforts. Southeastern faces a pair of teams this week who have been trending upward within the league. SEU welcomes St. Thomas into The Furnace before traveling to Miami Gardens to take on receiving votes Florida Memorial.
GAMES:
No. 5 Southeastern (14-2, 7-0 TSC) vs. St. Thomas (14-4, 6-1 TSC) Thursday 5:30 p.m.
No. 5 Southeastern (14-2, 7-0 TSC) vs. RV Florida Memorial (12-4. 7-0 TSC) Saturday 2:00 p.m.
COVERAGE:
St. Thomas:
Watch/Live Stats Florida Memorial:
Watch/Live Stats
FIRE FOCUS:
- SEU features the top scoring margin in NAIA Division II, outscoring opponents on average by 24.75.
- Selfless play continues to be a distinctive for this Southeastern squad, as the Fire average 19.875 assists per contest, which ranks second in the country.
- The Fire hang their hat on lockdown defense, specifically on having some of the most active hands in the NAIA. SEU ranks fourth in NAIA DII in steals per game (14.5), field goal percentage defense (.338), and fifth in turnover margin per game (8.75).
- SEU has not allowed an opposing team to hit the 70-point mark in 11-straight games. The last team to do so versus the Fire was Taylor on 11/23.
- Junior center Marlena Schmidt has been a double-digit scorer in four-consecutive outings. Additionally, the Eighty Four, Penn. native has totaled 10 blocks during that stretch.
- Senior small forward Elsa Paulsson-Glantz is averaging 15 points and 9.4 rebounds over her last five outings.
SOAK UP THE SUN:
- The Fire have won 49 consecutive games versus Sun Conference opponents.
- During that win streak, SEU has never surrendered more than 68 points to a TSC program.
- This season, Southeastern is averaging 81.4 points per conference contest and is defeating teams within the league by an average margin of 28.1.
ALL-TIME SERIES:
- The Bobcats hold the slight edge over the Fire in the all-time series 11-10, however, SEU has won nine-straight versus STU by an average margin of 23.44.
- The Fire lead the all-time series versus the Lions 14-6, having won 11-consecutive meetings in the series.
THE BOBCATS:
- After a tumultuous 3-4 start, St. Thomas has rattled off 11-straight wins, including six in Sun Conference play.
- The Bobcats feature the third-ranked scoring defense in the conference (60.56), largely due to having the second-greatest totals of turnover margin (4.72) and steals per game (11.11) in the league.
- Four-year senior Samara Auguste continues to be the catalyst for the St. Thomas' offense, averaging a team-high 17.27 points per game. Auguste is shooting 46.2% from three point range (12-26) over her last four games.
- Senior forward Ebony Griffin has made strides for the Bobcats in her second season with the program. After averaging 9.5 points and 7.1 rebounds per game last season, Griffin has improved to average 14.1 points and 9.2 rebounds per contest thus far. The Miramar native has posted 10 double-doubles this season.
THE LIONS:
- Florida Memorial is off to one of its best starts in program history. The Lions are the only team besides the Fire to remain unbeaten in Sun Conference play. The 7-0 start in TSC action is the best conference start in program history.
- FMU features the top scoring offense in The Sun Conference and number five ranked scoring offense in NAIA DII (86.313).
- Success from behind the arc is the driving force of the Lions' offensive barrage. Florida Memorial leads NAIA DII in three point field goals made per game (14.188).
- The Lions have been led by a trio of sisters. The Battle sisters (Tyesha, Brianna, Kanesha) have accounted for 55.4% of the FMU points scored this season.
- Sophomore Brianna Battle has been a sensation for FMU in her first season with the program. Battle averages 18.38 points per game and leads the country in three point percentage at 54.4% (49-90). The Pompano Beach native also leads NAIA DII in free throw percentage. A 98.2% shooter from the charity stripe, Battle has made 56 of her 57 free throw attempts this season.
- Junior guard Kanesha Battle is averaging 24 points over her last seven outings.
TALE OF THE TAPE:
SEU
Points per Game: 80.125
Opponents Points per Game: 55.4
Field Goal %: .457
3PT %: .360
FT%: .709
Rebounds per Game: 38.56
Turnovers per Game: 12.88
Individual PPG Leader:
Elsa Paulsson-Glantz (18.19)
Individual Rebounds per Game Leader:
Elsa Paulsson-Glantz (6.56)
Individual Assists per Game Leader: Hailee Printz (5.75)
Individual Blocks per Game Leader:
Marlena Schmidt (2.88)
STU
Points per Game: 70.222
Opponents Points per Game: 60.6
Field Goal %: .390
3PT %: .277
FT%: .715
Rebounds per Game: 41.61
Turnovers per Game: 14.17
Individual PPG Leader: Samara Auguste (17.27)
Individual Rebounds per Game Leader: Ebony Griffin (9.17)
Individual Assists per Game Leader: Samara Auguste (4.47)
Individual Blocks per Game Leader: Chakari Merritt (.47)
FMU
Points per Game: 86.313
Opponents Points per Game: 72.8
Field Goal %: .399
3PT %: .392
FT%: .779
Rebounds per Game: 37.06
Turnovers per Game: 13.8
Individual PPG Leader: Brianna Battle (19.07)
Individual Rebounds per Game Leader: Ashleign Gary (6.88)
Individual Assists per Game Leader: Brianna Battle (3.71)
Individual Blocks per Game Leader: Ashleign Gary (.63)
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