LAKELAND, Fla. -- Southeastern's No. 23 women's basketball team bounced back in a big way Monday afternoon, pulling away in the second half for a 79–61 victory over Tennessee Wesleyan at The Furnace to snap a two-game losing streak and improve to 9–2 on the season.
The Fire weathered a challenging first half that saw Tennessee Wesleyan control much of the tempo early. The Bulldogs led 17–14 after the opening quarter and carried a 42–35 advantage into halftime after shooting efficiently from the perimeter. Southeastern stayed within striking distance despite some early shooting struggles, leaning on defensive pressure and timely stops to prevent the game from getting away.
Everything changed coming out of the locker room. Southeastern delivered its most dominant quarter of the season, outscoring Tennessee Wesleyan 32–9 in the third period to seize full control of the game. The Fire shot nearly 78 percent from the field in the quarter, turning defense into offense and building momentum with strong ball movement and paint touches. That surge flipped a seven-point halftime deficit into a commanding double-digit lead entering the fourth quarter.
Grace Field led Southeastern with 20 points on an efficient 10-of-13 shooting performance, anchoring the Fire offense during the decisive stretch.
Eva Bishop added 15 points off the bench, providing a spark with her ability to finish inside, while
Rosa Redondo Sorribes chipped in 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting, including key baskets during the third-quarter run.
Mya Herman rounded out the double-figure scorers with 14 points.
Southeastern finished the afternoon shooting 52.3 percent from the field and dominated the paint, scoring 36 points inside. The Fire also forced 27 Tennessee Wesleyan turnovers and converted those into 34 points, a major factor in breaking the game open. The bench played a crucial role as well, outscoring the Bulldogs' reserves 35–6 and maintaining energy throughout the second half.
Defensively, the Fire held Tennessee Wesleyan to just 22 points combined in the third and fourth quarters, limiting clean looks and controlling the glass down the stretch. Southeastern's largest lead grew to 21 midway through the fourth quarter as the Fire closed out the win with poise.
Southeastern will look to build on the momentum when it returns to action on Tuesday, December 16, hosting Brewton-Parker College at 2 p.m. inside The Furnace as part of the SEU Classic.
