LAKELAND, Fla. -- SEU Women's Basketball improved to 8–0 overall and 3–0 in Sun Conference play—its best league start since the undefeated 2021–22 run—after a 63–59 home win over St. Thomas Friday night at The Furnace. The Fire leaned on another dominant all-around performance from graduate forward
Grace Field, who recorded her second straight double-double and third of the season with 19 points, 17 rebounds, and six assists.
The matchup was defined less by scoring runs and more by defensive intensity and efficiency on both ends. While neither team led by more than seven at any point, Southeastern's steadiness proved to be the difference. SEU shot 44.2 percent from the field, hit six threes, and went 11-for-14 at the line (78.6 percent), while holding the Bobcats to 41.4 percent shooting overall and limiting them to just five made threes. The Fire also generated 15 points off turnovers, forcing 19 giveaways, including several in key late-game possessions.
Field's presence anchored everything SEU did. She grabbed 15 defensive rebounds and helped SEU prevent St. Thomas from manufacturing many second-chance opportunities. Her playmaking was equally impactful—she either scored or assisted on more than half of SEU's fourth-quarter points.
SEU complemented Field's production with balanced perimeter scoring.
Mya Herman finished with 14 points and a game-high six steals, repeatedly disrupting passing lanes and turning defense into offense.
Kristiana Kulackovska provided 11 points on efficient 4-for-7 shooting, including a perfect 3-for-3 mark at the line. Off the bench,
Ellah Kissell added 11 points and knocked down three threes, giving SEU a needed scoring lift across multiple quarters.
Southeastern's defensive focus showed most in the final 10 minutes, when the Fire allowed just 12 points and held St. Thomas scoreless for long stretches. SEU forced seven fourth-quarter turnovers and held the Bobcats to 38.5 percent shooting in the period. Offensively, Southeastern executed efficiently down the stretch, scoring on key possessions in the paint and going 5-for-8 from the free-throw line to keep the lead intact.
SEU returns to action after the Thanksgiving break with a neutral-site matchup on Sunday, November 30, taking on Shawnee State at 3 p.m. in Babson Park, Fla.
