Box Score LAKELAND, Fla. – The Fire turned up the heat Friday afternoon heading into Christmas break. Southeastern University forced 21 turnovers to take control and coasted past Clarke University, 95-62, in women's basketball action at The Furnace.
After a Clarke trey made it a two-point contest 3:12 into the game, SEU took over with a stifling defensive effort. The Fire stole eight passes over the ensuing seven minutes leading to a 19-4 run. The home team built a 27-12 lead by the end of the first quarter, took it to a 21-point margin by half, and pushed it to 30 points with an early 9-0 third-quarter surge.
"It is always good to get a win over a (NAIA National) Tournament-caliber team," stressed SEU head coach Joshua Epperson. "It was personal for our girls. They worked hard all week and knew how good of a team Clarke (6-4) is."
For the game, the Fire (11-3) had only five turnovers of their own with 17 steals and won the rebounding battle, 36-32. SEU heads to the Christmas break on a 3-game win streak.
"What we kept saying over and over, is that we had to be together. It all started with our defense, and it flowed into offense," pointed out Courtni Demorest. "We were talking really well and moving as one unit."
Mya Herman dropped in 8 of her 10 shots, including a trio of treys, for a team-best 20 points to go with five of the team's 17 steals, and had three rebounds. Jodi Mullins was right behind with a 17-point effort and three boards.
Grace Field chipped in 14 points, four rebounds and two steals. Demorest was the fourth of the five starters in double digits with 13 points with nine coming on three 3-pointers to go with two assists and two rebounds. Anaya Coleman rounded the starting five with an all-around effort of eight points, eight rebounds, seven assists and three steals.
SEU got 23 points off its bench. Rosa Redondo Sorribes led the six non-starters with six points and three steals. Ariana Smuda added five points, five rebounds and a pair of blocked shots, while Victoria McKnight had four points, two rebounds and two assists.
Both Alley Haas and Mar Martorell finished with three points each.
Clarke's Hailey Walters paced her team with 22 points and three assists.
SEU will have the next 10 days off until they return to action in a New Year's Eve rematch with Brewton-Parker College. Tip time will be 2 p.m. The Fire beat the Barons in the season opener, 89-85.
