Women's Basketball | 3/18/2021 8:00:00 AM
LAKELAND, Fla. – After defeating Xavier University (La.) in the Opening Round Lakeland Bracket A Final, the Southeastern University women's basketball team is heading back to Sioux City for the seventh-consecutive season. They will face Indiana Wesleyan University in the Round of 16 on Friday, March 19
th at 4:00 pm.
In the opening round final against the Xavier Golden Nuggets, the Fire defense shined in the 70-47 victory. Southeastern scored 23 points off 17 Xavier turnovers, holding the Golden Nuggets to shoot just 23.1% (15-65) from the field.
TSC Player of the Year
Gabrielle Ozoude had an impressive postseason debut with 23 points and 16 rebounds. Senior guard
Madi Hecox contributed 14 points (4-7 FG, 5-6 FT) and four rebounds in the start. Junior point guard
Bekki Kalaydjiev led the Fire in assists with five.
The Fire travel to Sioux City ranking as one of the top defensive teams in the country with a defensive field goal percentage of 31.6 % (2
nd), 14.6 steals per game (3
rd), and allow 51 points per game (4
th).
Indiana Wesleyan (23-6) is coming off an 80-63 win over No. 13 Indiana Tech in their opening round final. Efficient shooting led the Wildcats to victory as they 50% (30-60) from the field including 10-22 from 3-PT range. IWU also scored 22 points off 15 Indiana Tech turnovers.
Gabby Suarez tallied 22 points on for the Wildcats while going six-for-seven from behind the arc. Suarez is also the team leader in assists with 93 on the season.
IWU enters the Round of 16 as one of the top shooting teams in the NAIA in as they are shooting 82.1% from the FT-line, first in the NAIA, and 38.4% from 3-PT range.
This matchup marks the second time these programs have faced each other in the Round of 16, with the previous meeting coming in 2018 when the Fire won by a score of 83-63.
The winner of this game will face the winner between No. 3 seed Campbellsville (Ky.) and the No .14 seed Lewis-Clark State on Saturday at 6:00 pm.
To keep up with the Fire as they head to the Round of 16, follow @SEUFireWBB on twitter!
