MIAMI GARDENS, Fla.—Just over 24 hours after moving to the top of the NAIA Women's Basketball Coaches' Poll, Southeastern found itself down nine points on the road.
The Fire outscored St. Thomas 23-16 in the final quarter to come away with a 66-61 win to improve to 25-1 and clinch their seventh-straight Sun Conference regular season title.
SEU trailed by two at the end of the first quarter and 31-26 at halftime, going 0-for-9 from 3-point land in the first 20 minutes of the game.
At the start of the third, the Bobcats scored the first four points to take their biggest lead of the night at 37-28 with 8:02 left.
Gabby Suarez scored seven of her nine points in the game to get the Fire within two at the end of the third.
Marta Aranda's second 3-pointer of the night at the 4:39 mark of the fourth tied the game at 53. Aranda finished with 15 points, going 4-of-5 from the field, 2-of-2 from 3-point range, and 5-of-6 at the free throw line. She also had four steals, three rebounds, and two assists.
On the next possession, a layup by
Angela Perry with 3:45 left gave SEU its first lead since the 6:17 mark of the second quarter. Perry had six points in the final four minutes of the game, finishing with a game-high 18 points and had seven rebounds.
Leilah Vigil added 12 points in just 16 minutes.
The Fire host Florida Memorial on Saturday at 5 p.m. for Senior Day.
