Women's Basketball | 3/12/2020 5:30:00 PM
SIOUX CITY, Iowa—In what ended up being the final contest in the NAIA Division II Women's Basketball National Championship, Southeastern defeated Ohio Christian 107-55.
The NAIA made the decision to cancel the balance of the tournament as the final moments of the game were running out.
"I am disappointed that the tournament had to be canceled after the start of play," said Director of Athletics,
Drew Watson. "The team played well and certainly had a lot to play for this week, but the NAIA made the decision based on protecting the health and safety of our student-athletes. At the end of the day that is priority number one for all of us. Even so, my heart breaks for the team, and especially our seniors, that the season had to be cut short like this."
During its 40 minutes on the floor, the Fire showed they were planning a long stay at the Tyson Events Center, putting some distance between themselves and the Lady Trailblazers (21-12) by outscoring OCU 32-7 in the second 10 minutes to lead 58-22 at halftime.
The Fire (27-3) were 13-of-19 in the second quarter and held Ohio Christian to just 2-of-16 from the field.
"We had obviously found our groove again," said coach
Tim Hays. "We really just showed the caliber of team we are. I don't know of many teams that get to the national tournament and play the way we did. It was a phenomenally well-balanced game; we moved the ball well, we shot well, and defended well."
Stellar play at the point guard spot by seniors
Eliza West and
Trisha Jacobs was a huge difference in the game as West set tournament highs with 11 assists and five steals. She posted her third double-double with the Fire, finishing with 14 points.
Jacobs, in her 12
th game in the NAIA Division II National Tournament, turned in a six-point, six-rebound, and six-assist effort in nearly 13 minutes off the bench, and added a steal to the winning effort.
Marlena Schmidt helped the Fire hold a 16-rebound advantage over Ohio Christian, and helped SEU outscore the Lady Trailblazers 62-24 in the paint, and ended her time with the Fire with her ninth double-double of the season with 16 points and 11 rebounds, and added six blocks.
Taylah Simmons led all scorers with 30 points, and had eight rebounds, four steals, and three assists in just shy of 24 minutes of work. The junior was 12-of-18 from the field.
"Our best players all showed the caliber of players they were individually, but also as a team," said Hays. "It just was a fun game played incredibly well and showed we were on track to contend for a national title this year."
The Fire also got 17-point efforts from underclassmen
Raegan Linster and
M'caela Sellers. Sellers added eight rebounds, two assists, and three blocks to the effort, and Linster chipped in four rebounds, and connected on five 3-pointers.
"So few teams ever get to end on a win, and on a win where it was a lot of fun and every player played," said Hays.
