LAKELAND, Fla.—Southeastern needed to figure out a new way to win a game in Saturday night's Sun Conference Women's Basketball title game.
The 3-point shots wouldn't fall and the defense had a hard time slowing a confident, high-powered attack.
The Fire attacked the paint with tournament MVP
Kiki Britzmann to the tune of 30 points in an 84-72 win over Ave Maria to win the title for the seventh time in the last nine years.
"We had to calm down a little bit," said coach
Brian Neal of the first half. "They had us playing so fast and (Ave Maria) played so confidently that it sped us up a bit. Obviously, Kiki was the key and got her composure around the basket and was the catalyst for the whole thing."
Trailing 34-33 at halftime with just one made 3-pointer on 11 attempts, the Fire made an effort to get Britzmann the ball and scored 22 of her 30 in the second half.
"They beat us at our own game in many ways, but I'm proud of the way they kept hanging in there and never got down on themselves," said Neal.
Britzmann connected on a layup with 20 second left in the third and made the following free throw after a foul to get the Fire back within one and
Anja Knoflach's left corner 3-pointer at the buzzer put the Fire up 55-53 to start the fourth. Knoflach connected on another 3-pointer from the corner to start the fourth and give SEU a five-point advantage.
Knoflach was selected to the all-tournament team after scoring 19 poitns and hauling in five rebounds.
The Gyrenes (21-10) whittled the lead down to one with 5:38 left but the Fire answered right back with a 7-0 run, getting five of those points from
Mya Herman who also earned all-tournament recognition after finishing with 16 in the title game and added a team-high six rebounds and three steals.
Ave Maria had one more chance late, getting it to a three-point game with 2:43 left but missed a 3-pointer and two layups before the Fire ended the game on a 13-3 run, going 11-of-11 at the free throw line over the final 1:18.
Bekki Kalaydjiev also finished in double-figures with 10 points and added three assists, two steals, and two rebounds.
"We took our lumps and dealt with a lot of adversity but they've hung in there and progressed all season long," said Neal of the team which will wait to learn its opponent and destination for the NAIA Women's Basketball National Tournament next week.
