POINT LOOKOUT, Mo.- The new-look No. 2 Southeastern University women's basketball team showed the same poise as last season's national runners-up, surging their way to a 74-56 win over the No. 3 College of the Ozarks Bobcats in game one of the COFO Tournament. The Fire have now won six-straight season openers.
The Fire dominated the interior versus the Bobcats throughout the night, outscoring COFO 42-8 in the paint.
Overall, Southeastern shot 48.1% (29-60) from the field and 31.3% (5-16) from three-point range, while holding College of the Ozarks to sub-30% shooting from behind the arc (28.9%,11-38) and overall (28.3%,17-60).
The first quarter of play was the tightest of competition between the two highly-touted programs, featuring six lead changes.
Sophomore shooting guard
Raegan Linster and junior small forward
Taylah Simmons provided the early spark for the Fire, each scoring six of their 10 first half points in the first quarter to help guide SEU to an 18-16 lead after the first 10 minutes of play.
The Fire ended the second quarter on an 11-3 run to take a 39-27 lead into the half.
SEU used a steady third quarter to put some more distance between they and the Bobcats, scoring a game-high 23, while holding COFO to just 13 in the period.
Freshman shooting guard
Haley Howarth netted nine of her 13 points in the third quarter off a trio of three pointers made. Howarth was 3-4 from behind the arc in her first collegiate game.
SEU led by as many as 26 in the fourth quarter of play.
Simmons finished with a team leading 20 points and recorded 10 rebounds to post a double-double in her first game in an SEU uniform.
Linster scored 10 points and hauled in nine boards of her own. Junior shooting guard
M'caela Sellers totaled eight points and registered five rebounds.
Tomorrow afternoon, it will be a rematch of the 2018-19 NAIA Division II National Championship Final, as the Fire take on the No. 1 Concordia University (Neb.) Bulldogs in game two of the COFO Tournament. Tip-off is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. eastern.
Â
Â
Â
