LAKELAND, Fla.—A 24-point effort from sophomore Raegan Linster helped Southeastern hand Loyola (La.) its first loss of the season in the opening game of the SEU Thanksgiving Classic.
On defense, the Fire forced 30 turnovers in a 79-66 win over the Wolf Pack to move to 7-2 on the season.
Early on,
M'caela Sellers was the catalyst, scoring seven of her 15 points in the first quarter to help the Fire lead 19-9 after 10 minutes of play.
NAIA Division I No. 24 Loyola (5-1) started to heat up from 3-point range in the third quarter, converting on six of its nine attempts and cut the deficit from as many as 16 all the way down to seven at the intermission.
With 4:16 left in the third, Southeastern pushed the lead back to 16, using a 15-6 run. The Wolf Pack went just 4-of-17 from 3-point range in the second 20 minutes as the Fire were 15-of-33 (45.5%) from the field in the second.
Linster converted on 7-of-13 from the field, which included a 5-for-10 effort from 3-point range, and had two rebounds, two assists, and four steals before fouling out after 26 minutes.
Taylah Simmons was also in double figures with 12 points, and added five rebounds, two assists, and four steals.
Marlena Schmidt had 10 points, nine rebounds, blocked five shots, had three assists, and two steals in 31 minutes of work.
The Fire dominated in the post, outscoring Loyola 40-10 in the lane, and holding the Wolf Pack scoreless in the first half in the paint.
Southeastern will take on Florida National tomorrow at 4 p.m. in the conclusion of the Thanksgiving Classic. The Conquistadors defeated Ave Maria 63-59 in the second game on Friday.
