LAKELAND, Fla.—A 30-point first quarter set the tone for an 81-43 victory for Southeastern over Fort Lauderdale on Monday night.
Southeastern (5-3) scored the first 12 points of the game and finished the first quarter with a 24-point advantage thanks to a 3-pointer by
Mya Herman with a minute left in the quarter.
The Fire opened the game 4-of-12 from 3-point range and added three more 3-pointers in the second quarter and held a 48-18 lead at halftime.
Anja Knoflach scored 11 of her game-high 20 points during the second quarter.
To start the third quarter, the Fire turned the ball over on their first four possessions but the Eagles only shaved three points off the deficit during that time. Arian Smuda put a stop to the offensive lull with an open layup in the lane on a pass from
Anaya Coleman to get the offense back on track.
Smuda recorded her first double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds off the bench and added four assists.
Attacking the lane was a strength for Southeastern, outscoring Fort Lauderdale (1-7) 36-14 in the paint.
The Fire led 63-28 to start the fourth, thanks to
Madison Vaira's first career 3-pointer at the buzzer. Vaira finished with eight points and six rebounds.
Rebecca Cook was also in double figures in rebounding with 11 and added four points and four assists.
Next up for the Fire is a trip to Kentucky to take on top-ranked Campbellsville on Thursday.
