LAKELAND, Fla.- On a day where the entire Fire starting five registered double-digit scoring, the No. 2 Southeastern University women's basketball team muscled past the No. 13 University of Saint Francis Cougars 87-64 to improve to 10-2 on the season.
"This game is exactly what we needed right now," shared SEU head coach
Tim Hays. "We knew this team was going to be a good enough shooting team to challenge us and stretch us out defensively."
Saint Francis committed to airing it out from the perimeter early in the contest, the first four made USF field goals all came from three-point range, the fourth of which tied up the game 12-12 with 6:19 to go in the first quarter. On the day, 41 of the 58 Saint Francis field goal attempts came from behind the arc.
Sophomore guard Raegan Linster helped keep SEU even with USF early in the game, scoring eight of her 16 points in the first quarter.
Shooting 45% (9-20) from behind the arc in the first half helped keep the Cougars within striking distance of the Fire, as SEU took a 40-36 lead into the locker room for halftime.
Junior guard
M'caela Sellers was a difference-maker for SEU in the second half, scoring 15 of her team-leading 18 points, recording four steals, and posting a block in the second 20 minutes of action.
"As a person playing close to the basket, I have to be aggressive and guard the post," commented Sellers. "I was just thinking about doing my part and contributing to the team."
The fourth quarter was the quarter of separation for Southeastern, as the Fire outscored the Cougars 30-15. Executing at the charity stripe was key down the stretch for the Fire, who went 11-13 at the line in the final period.
Sellers hauled in six rebounds to go along with her 18 points. Linster also had eight boards to pair with her 16 points. Senior point guard
Eliza West totaled a season-high 17 points to accompany six rebounds and four assists.
Junior forward
Taylah Simmons loaded the stat sheet with a 14 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds line. Senior center
Marlena Schmidt scored 12, going a perfect 4-4 from both the field and the free-throw line.
The Fire are set to host the SEU Christmas Invitational later this week. First SEU takes on NCAA Division II Ferris State University on Thursday. Tip-off between the Fire and the Bulldogs is set for 2:00 p.m.
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