LAKELAND, Fla.—A stingy defensive effort helped Southeastern come away with a win in the NAIA Women's Basketball National Championship Opening Round by knocking off Xavier University (La.) 77-45 to improve to 30-1 on the season.
The top-seeded Fire held Xavier scoreless for nearly the first six minutes of the game, building a 12-0 lead. Defensively, SEU forced five turnovers in the first five minutes and at the other end of the floor had graduate transfer
Gabby Suarez connecting on three 3-pointers in the first 10 minutes to hold a 23-6 advantage at the end of the first.
Raegan Linster had five points in the second quarter, including a 3-pointer on the last possession of the second to send the Fire to the locker room with a 45-17 lead at halftime. Southeastern finished the first half shooting 51.4% from the field and holding the Gold Nuggets just 20% from the field.
Xavier attempted to work its way back into the game with a 16-point third quarter, but the Fire went 52% from the field and a perfect 4-of-4 at the free throw line to hold a 62-33 lead into the fourth.
During the fourth, the Fire maintained their advantage, outscoring XULA 15-12.
Suarez led a balanced attack with 15 points going 5-of-7 from the field and had four assists. Reagan Linster added 12 points with a pair of 3-pointers and had five rebounds.
Rebecca Cook and
Leilah Vigil had 10 points and six rebounds each.
The Fire will play at 5 p.m. on Saturday against ninth-seeded Rust.
