Women's Basketball Heads to Miami Gardens for First Contest of 2020

LAKELAND, Fla.- After a 15 day hiatus, the No. 2 Southeastern University women's basketball team is set to take the court for the first time in 2020. The Fire most recently upended the No. 1 Concordia (Neb.) University Bulldogs 97-72 in The Furnace to round out the non-conference portion of their season with an exclamation point. SEU now resumes Sun Conference play with a trip down to Miami Gardens to take on the Florida Memorial University Lions this Saturday afternoon

GAME:
No. 2 Southeastern (13-2, 5-0 TSC) at Florida Memorial (7-7, 2-2 TSC)
Saturday | 2:00 p.m. | FMU Wellness Center | Miami Gardens, Fla.

COVERAGE:
WATCH/LIVE STATS

FIRE FOCUS:

• Junior forward Taylah Simmons has posted 20-plus point efforts in five of her last six contests. Simmons was one of three SEU players to post a double-double versus Concordia, totaling 22 points and hauling in 12 rebounds. The Melbourne, Australia native is also shooting 83.3% (20-24) from the free-throw line over her past three games, 13.6% higher than her season average of 70.7%.
• Senior point guard Eliza West posted a single-game program record 16 assists versus Concordia, the same number of helpers she had recorded in her previous four contests combined. The Mount Martha, Australia native has also registered three-straight double-digit scoring efforts after only posting three double-digit games over the first 12 games of the season.
• Sophomore guard Raegan Linster has successfully converted 24-straight free throw attempts.
• Southeastern currently features the top scoring defense in NAIA Division II, surrendering an average of only 53.87 points per game. The Fire also rank second in scoring margin per game (32.6), as well as field goal percentage defense (.314).
• SEU has won 67-straight games against Sun Conference opponents.
• The last time the Fire lost to a TSC team was February 10, 2016 against Thomas (70-64).

ALL-TIME SERIES:

• The Fire lead the all-time series versus the Lions 17-6, having won 14-consecutive meetings in the series.

THE LIONS:

• Florida Memorial enters the contest an even 7-7 on the season, including 2-2 in TSC play.
• The Lions are one of the top shot-blocking teams in NAIA DII, ranking 10^th in total blocks (58) and 13^th in blocks per game (4.1).
• Leading the way for FMU in shot-blocking and in many other ways is senior small forward Isis Lane. The 6-4 NCAA Division I Texas Southern transfer leads the Lions in points per game (13.7), rebounds per game (9.9), steals (18), and blocks (29) in her lone season with the Lions.
• Lane has also registered six double-doubles on the season. FMU is 4-2 when she accomplishes the feat.
• Junior point guard Airneisha Gamble is the second-leading scorer on the Florida Memorial squad, averaging 11.5 points per game.

 
TALE OF THE TAPE:

SEU
Points per Game: 86.5
Opponents Points per Game: 53.9
Field Goal %: .482
3PT %: .339
FT%: .676
Rebounds per Game: 47.3
Turnovers per Game: 17.8
Individual PPG Leader: Taylah Simmons (21.3)
Individual Rebounds per Game Leader:  Marlena Schmidt (8.3)
Individual Assists per Game Leader:  Eliza West (5.5)
Individual Steals per Game Leader:  Taylah Simmons (2.7)
Individual Blocks per Game Leader:  Marlena Schmidt (2.2)
 
FMU
Points per Game: 66.9
Opponents Points per Game: 63.9
Field Goal %: .385
3PT %: .291
FT%: .615
Rebounds per Game: 42.6
Turnovers per Game: 19.9
Individual PPG Leader: Isis Lane (13.7)
Individual Rebounds per Game Leader: Isis Lane (9.9)
Individual Assists per Game Leader: Airneisha Gamble (2.8)
Individual Steals per Game Leader: Isis Lane (1.3)
Individual Blocks per Game Leader: Isis Lane (2.1)

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