CRESTVIEW HILLS, Ky.- A challenging first quarter start was too much for the No. 7 Southeastern University women's basketball team to overcome. The Fire fell to the No. 14 Thomas More University Saints 85-47 to drop their second-straight contest on the road.
The Fire were outscored 29-3 in the first quarter by the Saints, who opened up the period on an 18-0 run. During the first quarter, SEU shot 1-12 from the field, including 0-5 from behind the arc. Meanwhile, Thomas More went 47.4% from the field and made all nine of their first quarter shots from three-point rage to propel themselves to a dominant start.
Turnovers doomed SEU again, as the Fire committed 24 turnovers for their second-consecutive contest with 20-plus turnovers.
SEU faced a 34-point deficit heading into the locker room, trailing TMU 46-12 at halftime.
The Fire shot much improved in the second half, going 43.8% (14-32) on the court. However, the Saints made six more three-pointers in the second half to bring their game total to 15.
Southeastern was only able to bring the deficit to Thomas More within a 31-point deficit in the second half.
Graduate power forward
Gabrielle Ozoude led the Fire with 11 points, coming off the bench in her SEU debut. Senior small forward
Carmen Handy scored 10 points in her first start of the season and led the Fire in rebounds at 7.
The Fire return to The Furnace next Thursday to open up Sun Conference play versus the College of Coastal Georgia Mariners. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m.
