Women's Basketball Hosts Thanksgiving Classic this Weekend

LAKELAND, Fla.- After outscoring Sun Conference opponents 279-119 through its first three conference contests, The No. 2 Southeastern University women's basketball team will take a pause from TSC play to host a non-conference Thanksgiving Invitational. On Friday, the Fire will face NAIA Division II No. 24 Loyola University of New Orleans before taking on Florida National University on Saturday. Ave Maria University will also participate, taking on LU and FNU throughout the weekend.

GAMES:
SEU Thanksgiving Invitational
Friday, 2:00 p.m., No. 2 Southeastern (6-2) vs. No. 24 Loyola (La.) (5-0)
Friday, 4:00 p.m., Ave Maria (9-1) vs. Florida National (2-7)
Saturday, 2:00 p.m. No. 24 Loyola (5-0) vs. Ave Maria (9-1)
Saturday, 4:00 p.m. No. 2 Southeastern (6-2) vs. Florida National (2-7)

COVERAGE:
WATCH   LIVE STATS

FIRE FOCUS:

• SEU is ranked Top-20 in 11 statistical categories in NAIA Division II. Offensively, the Fire rank fourth in Scoring Margin (33.1), 12^th in Team Field Goal Percentage (.463), and 19^th in Points Per Game (81.8). Defensively, SEU leads the nation in Field Goal Percentage Defense (.300), ranks second in Points Allowed Per Game (48.7), and 10^th in Three-Point Defense Percentage (.233).
• Southeastern has scored an average of 30.4 points per game off of an average of 27.4 turnovers forced per game over its last five outings.
• Junior forward Taylah Simmons ranks fourth in NAIA DII in Points Per Game, averaging 21.6 this season. Simmons has totaled 20 or more points and recorded three or more steals in each of her last five games played.
• Freshman guard Hayley Howarth has made a three-pointer in all eight games the Fire have competed in this season. Howarth is shooting a team best 51.4% (18-35) from behind the arc thus far, which ranks 14^th in NAIA DII.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS:

• This marks the second meeting all-time between SEU and LU and the first ever meeting between the Fire and the Conquistadors.
• The Fire defeated the Wolf Pack 80-63 at Loyola on 10/28/17.

THE WOLF PACK:

• At 5-0, Loyola is off to its best start since the 2014-15 campaign in which the Wolf Pack went 27-3 that season.
• This season, Loyola has scored wins over two NAIA Division I Top-25 teams, defeating No. 23 LSU-Alexandria 81-80 and No. 16 Bethel (Tenn.) 61-49.
• LU has shown its offensive prowess to start the season, ranking ninth in NAIA DI in Team Field Goal Percentage (.467), 17^th in Three-Point Field Goals Made Per Game (8.4), and 18^th in Points Per Game (80.2).
• Three different players average double-digit scoring for the Wolf Pack. Leading the way is four-year senior Kaila Anthony, who has appeared in 96 career games for LU. Anthony averages a team-leading 16 points per game, averages 5.2 rebounds per game, and is shooting 86.7% (13-15) from the free-throw line.

THE CONQUISTADORS:

• In its second year with the NAIA, Florida National is off to a 2-7 start. The Conquistadors snapped a six-game skid last week with a 52-42 win over TSC member Warner.
• This season's FNU squad is an experienced one, as 10 of its 13 players are upperclassmen. Four different countries are also represented on this Florida National team.
• Turnovers have plagued the Conquistadors this season, as they average 23.4 giveaways this season.
• Junior point guard Adria Stewart has been the catalyst for the FNU offense thus far, averaging 14 points per game and shooting 37.7% (23-61) from three-point range. Stewart's 23 three-pointers made is 16 more than any of her teammates.

SEU
Points per Game: 81.8
Opponents Points per Game: 48.7
Field Goal %: .463
3PT %: .353
FT%: .626
Rebounds per Game: 45.7
Turnovers per Game: 16.4
Individual PPG Leader: Taylah Simmons (21.6)
Individual Rebounds per Game Leader:  Taylah Simmons (8.4)
Individual Assists per Game Leader:  Eliza West (4.3)
Individual Steals per Game Leader:  Taylah Simmons (2.7)
Individual Blocks per Game Leader:  Marlena Schmidt (1.7)
 
LU
Points per Game: 80.2
Opponents Points per Game: 58.6
Field Goal %: .467
3PT %: .350
FT%: .670
Rebounds per Game: 41
Turnovers per Game: 15.4
Individual PPG Leader: Kaila Anthony (16)
Individual Rebounds per Game Leader: Kaila Anthony (5.2)
Individual Assists per Game Leader: Taylor Thomas (2.6)
Individual Steals per Game Leader: Kaila Anthony (2.8)
Individual Blocks per Game Leader: Tera Snell (1.2)

FNU
Points per Game: 58.8
Opponents Points per Game: 71.7
Field Goal %: .351
3PT %: .286
FT%: .557
Rebounds per Game: 37
Turnovers per Game: 23.4
Individual PPG Leader: Adria Stewart (14)
Individual Rebounds per Game Leader: Brandilyn Robertson (7.8)
Individual Assists per Game Leader: Destiny Lindsey (2.2)
Individual Steals per Game Leader: Brandilyn Robertson (2.1)
Individual Blocks per Game Leader: Breyuna Walker (.57)

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