LAKELAND, Fla.—Following a span of three games in five days, things won't be lightening up this week for the Southeastern women's basketball team.
Winners of 13 in-a-row, the Fire will host Ave Maria Tuesday, Warner on Thursday, then head to Florida Memorial on Saturday.
Last week, the Fire had a pair of convincing home wins over Thomas and Keiser, and found a way to win a tight game at St. Thomas. In the last three games, the Fire came out of the halftime break strong outscoring their opponents 66-28 in the third quarter. During the second half of Tuesday's win over Thomas, the Fire were 65.7% from the field, and 7-of-11 from 3-point range in the second half and outscored TU 32-10 in the third.
Sophomore
Haley Howarth connected on 10 3-pointers during the week. Her 44 3-pointers this season leads The Sun Conference.
Graduate forward
Gabrielle Ozoude made 18 field goals to average 13 points per game, and averaged 7.3 rebounds per game last week. For the season, Ozoude is hooting 51.6% which is second in the conference.
The Fire have been excellent defensively during their 13-game win streak. No team has scored more than 61 points since the streak started on November 16
th. Additionally, the Fire have held six of those 13 opponents to under 50, including each of the last three.
At home this season, the Fire have averaged 81.9 points per game, and are allowing an average of just 47.6 points per game.
Ave Maria comes to The Furnace on Tuesday at 7 p.m. looking to end a four-game losing streak. Taylor Allen leads the Gyrenes at 15.6 points per game, and has a team-best 33 assists in 12 games. From the field, she is 52.6%, which is 37
th nationally. Syanne Rowe is also in double-figures, averaging 10.2 points and 5.6 rebounds per game.
Thursday, the Fire will have a chance at a three-game season sweep of Polk County rival Warner having previously beaten the Royals at The Furnace on December 19
th by 50, and winning at Warner on January 15
th, 84-61. The Royals are fifth in The Sun Conference in team defense, allowing 64.4 points per game and holding teams to 38.1% from the field. Haley Gantt had 11 points in each of WU's last two games and averaged seven rebounds and two blocks per game.
Florida Memorial is coming off of a 100-42 win over Ave Maria on Saturday, and will have an opportunity to move up the conference standings with a game against third-place Webber International on Thursday before hosting first-place SEU on Saturday. Keaynna Tolbert is a catalyst at both ends of the floor for the Lions, averaging a conference-best 22.7 points per game, and has 41 steals and eight blocks.
