LAKELAND, Fla. – The Fire would not be denied Wednesday evening. Trailing by 18 points in the late minutes of the third quarter, Southeastern University turned up the heat and raced back, overtaking the College of Coastal Georgia, 70-66, in Sun Conference women's basketball action at The Furnace.
Down 53-35 with 3:11 to go in the third period, Jodi Mullins and Anaya Coleman teamed up for a 13-3 run, including a Coleman steal and pass to Mullins for a trey ending the quarter and cutting the deficit in half. The Fire continued their climb back as Grace Field netted a trio of buckets around Mullins' and Kassidy Jones' 3-pointers in a 12-0 surge in the first five minutes of the fourth quarter for a 60-56 advantage. The two teams deadlocked two more times before a Coleman layup preceded a pair of Field steals she turned into a layup and a free throw for the final lead change, 69-64, with 45 seconds to go.
With the victory, SEU (18-4) continues its mastery over Coastal Georgia (10-7), winning their 19th consecutive game in the series between the teams. The Fire also improved to 8-2 in the Sun Conference and completed the season sweep after taking a 75-63 decision on November 20 in Georgia.
After making only 14 of its first 46 field goals in the first three periods, SEU connected on 9-of-17 attempts (.529) in the game-deciding fourth quarter.
In a game where the Mariners looked to take Mullins out of the Fire offense, Coleman was everywhere, playing her best game of the season. She hit 9-of-21 field goals, three treys, and all four free throws for 25 points. The guard also pulled in seven rebounds, handed out six assists with a block and the key late third-quarter steal.
Mullins overcame Coastal's efforts to shut her down and had her own quality night with a pair of 3-pointers as part of her 17 points and two assists. Field was the third double-digit Fire scorer with 12 points, 10 of those in the fourth frame, with 10 rebounds, five on the offensive side, for the double-double, four steals and two assists.
Jones chipped in five points off the bench and Alley Haas, Rosa Sorribes and Victoria McKnight each hit a 3-pointer, while Mya Herman had two points.
Morgan Webb paced the Mariners with 16 points.
SEU goes back on the road this weekend when they travel to Webber International on Saturday afternoon. Tip-off is at 2 p.m..
