Using a massive second quarter effort, the Fire advanced to 15-5 on the season, 6-1 in conference play as they defeated the hosting Warner University Royals, 87-45.
The game started slower then the Fire would have liked, falling behind early shooting 5-of-20 from the field. A few made layups and converted three-point plays put the Royals ahead 17-12 at the end of the first.
To start the second quarter, at the 8:47 mark
Rebecca Cook hit a free throw for one of her seven points on the day. The Fire would then go on a 31-7 run to go up by 20 at halftime. In the second, the Fire made only three 3-pointers, but went 12-21 from the field and had more offensive rebounds than defensive rebounds. Graduate student
Bekki Kalaydjiev had more than a third of the team's points in the second quarter, getting 13 of her 18 total points to put the Fire up 44-24 at halftime.
After that, the Fire never looked back, outscoring Warner 43-21 in the second half and holding the Royals to less points than the Fire allow on average. This was due to forcing 20 turnovers. Guard
Anaya Coleman had four steals during the game leading the Fire. She also had five offensive rebounds and finished with 15 points.
Ariana Smuda cleaned up the glass, hauling in a team-high 11 rebounds, and
Anja Knoflach added eight points of her own.
The Fire return home to The Furnace on Saturday, February 3, where they look to avenge a loss earlier this season against Ave Maria. The tip off for that game is at 2 p.m.
You can purchase tickets
HERE
