LAKELAND, Fla. -- Southeastern returned to play at the SEU Classic on Friday afternoon with a controlled 63–48 victory over Missouri Baptist at The Furnace, improving to 11–2 on the season and continuing a strong non-conference stretch.
The Fire set the tone early with efficient offense and disciplined defense, shooting over 64 percent from the floor in the opening quarter to take a 20–14 lead. Southeastern's pressure on both ends quickly created separation, limiting Missouri Baptist's clean looks while establishing rhythm offensively.
That momentum carried into the second quarter, where the Fire delivered their most decisive stretch of the game. SEU outscored the Spartans 24–11 in the period, fueled by ball movement, perimeter shooting, and points off turnovers. The Fire connected on five three-pointers in the quarter and pushed the lead to as many as 23 before heading into halftime with a 44–25 advantage.
Mya Herman led all scorers with 23 points on 10-of-15 shooting, including three three-pointers.
Sarah Davis provided a major spark off the bench, finishing with 18 points and four makes from beyond the arc.
Grace Field added six points, nine rebounds, and four assists, while Southeastern's bench accounted for 28 points, highlighting the depth of the Fire lineup.
Missouri Baptist attempted to regroup after the break and edged Southeastern 14–9 in the third quarter as the Fire cooled from the floor. Despite the brief lull, Southeastern remained composed, leaning on defense and rebounding to maintain control. The Fire held Missouri Baptist to just 30.2 percent shooting for the game and limited the Spartans to 3-of-25 from three-point range.
In the fourth quarter, Southeastern answered each push with timely stops and baskets, closing the game on a 10–9 frame. The Fire never allowed the lead to drop below double digits and executed efficiently in the half court to close out the win.
Southeastern finished the afternoon shooting 41.5 percent from the field, recording 15 assists on 27 made baskets and converting 24 points off turnovers.
The Fire will conclude play at the SEU Classic on Saturday, when they host Truett McConnell at noon. The tournament will wrap up later that afternoon with Florida Memorial facing Missouri Baptist at 2 p.m.
