Women's Basketball Looks to Continue Sun Conference Dominance

LAKELAND, Fla.- The No. 2 Southeastern University women's basketball team looks to continue rolling through Sun Conference play. The Fire tipped-off the New Year with a dominant 91-35 win at Florida Memorial this past Saturday. This week, SEU will embark on a road and home split, as the Fire head to North Miami to take on Johnson & Wales University on Thursday before returning to The Furnace on Saturday to host Keiser University.

GAMES:

No. 2 Southeastern (14-2, 6-0 TSC) at Johnson & Wales (10-3, 4-1 TSC)
Thursday | 5:30 p.m. | Wildcat Center | North Miami, Fla.

No. 2 Southeastern (14-2, 6-0 TSC) vs. Keiser (7-8, 2-3 TSC)
Saturday | 5:00 p.m. | The Furnace | Lakeland, Fla.

COVERAGE:

JWU: Watch/Live Stats   KU: Watch   Live Stats

FIRE FOCUS:

• Junior forward Taylah Simmons continues to cause fits for opposing defenses. After a 33-point effort versus Florida Memorial, the Melbourne, Australia native captured her second-straight TSC Player of the Week honor.
• Over her last three contests, Simmons is averaging 26.3 points, shooting 59.2% (29-49) from the field, shooting 84% (21-25) from the free throw line, and averaging nine rebounds per game. Simmons leads The Sun Conference and ranks second in NAIA DII in points per game on the season at 22.06.
• After just two double-digit scoring efforts through the first 10 games of the season, senior center Marlena Schmidt has posted six-consecutive games in double digits, pushing her season scoring average to 10.06 points per game.
• The Fire currently rank NAIA DII Top-10 in eight defensive categories, including first in scoring defense per game (52.7) and field goal percentage defense (.306).
• SEU currently ranks NAIA DII Top-10 in seven offensive categories, including first in team field goal percentage (.490) and seventh in points per game (86.75).
• SEU has won 68-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:

• Since joining the Sun Conference in 2009, the Fire are 20-1 against the Wildcats and have won the last 20 meetings, with their last loss coming in December of 2009.
• Southeastern and Keiser have met 20 times since 2009 with the Fire holding the advantage over the Seahawks 12-8. As of late, SEU has taken control in the matchups, winning 10 of the last 12 meetings and each of the last seven.

THE WILDCATS:

• After a perfect 4-0 start in Sun Conference play, Johnson & Wales suffered its first TSC loss of the season this past Saturday at home versus Webber International 74-56.
• Versus the Warriors, JWU shot just 27.3% from the field, the first time the Wildcats had been held under 30% shooting as a team on the season.
• JWU has relied on active hands defensively this season, ranking sixth in NAIA DII in blocks per game (4.6), 13^th in steals per game (13), and 13^th in average turnover margin (5.9).
• Junior forward Tianna Ayulo is putting together another solid campaign for the Wildcats, averaging a team-leading 16 points and 3.8 assists per contest. Ayulo also averages 7.3 rebounds per game.
• After averaging 8.8 points per game as a freshman last season, sophomore forward Jordan McDuffie is off to a solid start, averaging 12.2 points and 3.6 rebounds per game.

THE SEAHAWKS:

• At 8-7 on the season, Keiser has alternated wins and losses in its last seven contests.
• Most recently, the Seahawks started 2020 with a 75-53 handling of TSC last-place Warner in West Palm Beach.
• KU attempts an average of 21.1 shots from three-point range per game, making an average of 7.9 of those attempts. The Seahawks' .377 team shooting percentage from behind the arc ranks seventh in NAIA DII.
• University of Northwestern Ohio transfer Emily Patton has shined in her first season with the Seahawks. The junior guard averages a team-leading 16.4 points per game and has made 10 three-pointers over her last three contests.
• Four-year senior forward Midori Long has posted six double-doubles this season, averaging 13.1 points and 10.3 rebounds per game.

 
TALE OF THE TAPE:

SEU
Points per Game: 86.8
Opponents Points per Game: 52.7
Field Goal %: .490
3PT %: .338
FT%: .674
Rebounds per Game: 46.7
Turnovers per Game: 17.6
Individual PPG Leader: Taylah Simmons (22.1)
Individual Rebounds per Game Leader:  Marlena Schmidt (8.3)
Individual Assists per Game Leader:  Eliza West (5.6)
Individual Steals per Game Leader:  Taylah Simmons (2.9)
Individual Blocks per Game Leader:  Marlena Schmidt (2.2)
 
JWU
Points per Game: 72.5
Opponents Points per Game: 66.4
Field Goal %: .408
3PT %: .232
FT%: .567
Rebounds per Game: 43.6
Turnovers per Game: 15.5
Individual PPG Leader: Isis Lane (13.7)
Individual Rebounds per Game Leader: Tianna Ayulo (16)
Individual Assists per Game Leader: Tianna Ayulo (3.8)
Individual Steals per Game Leader: Shykim Gillion (3)
Individual Blocks per Game Leader: Alexis McClain (1.5)

KU
Points per Game: 72.4
Opponents Points per Game: 67.7
Field Goal %: .411
3PT %: .377
FT%: .765
Rebounds per Game: 40.9
Turnovers per Game: 18.5
Individual PPG Leader: Emily Patton (16.4)
Individual Rebounds per Game Leader: Midori Long (10.3)
Individual Assists per Game Leader: Daniela Barrios (2.5)
Individual Steals per Game Leader: Antigonie Sanabria (2.3) 
Individual Blocks per Game Leader: Nikki Saunders (.86)

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