LAKELAND, Fla. -- Southeastern delivered a dominant performance at The Furnace on Saturday afternoon, rolling past Truett McConnell, 99–45, to close play before the holiday break in emphatic fashion. The Fire controlled the game from the opening tip, building a commanding first-quarter lead and never allowing the Bears to find rhythm on either end of the floor.
SEU set the tone immediately, opening the game on an 11–0 run fueled by early three-pointers and aggressive defensive pressure. The Fire shot 61.1 percent in the opening quarter and held Truett McConnell to just four made field goals, racing out to a 32–11 advantage after one. Southeastern's defensive activity forced turnovers and created transition opportunities, allowing the Fire to dictate tempo throughout the period.
Grace Field led the charge with a highly efficient outing, scoring 23 points on 10-of-14 shooting while adding seven rebounds, three assists, and nine steals. Her activity on both ends keyed Southeastern's ability to extend possessions and capitalize on Truett McConnell miscues.
Mya Herman followed with 18 points, knocking down four three-pointers and adding four assists, while
Kristiana Kulackovska chipped in 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting.
Southeastern continued to build separation in the second quarter, maintaining control despite rotating lineups. The Fire entered halftime with a 47–22 lead, holding the Bears to just 32.7 percent shooting in the opening half. SEU's depth showed as multiple players contributed on the glass and in passing lanes, limiting Truett McConnell to single-shot possessions.
Any hopes of a second-half push were quickly erased after the break. Southeastern erupted for 28 points in the third quarter, again shooting 60 percent from the field.
Grace Pitzer added 10 points off the bench, while
Ellah Kissell and
Eva Bishop each reached double figures, highlighting the Fire's balanced scoring attack. SEU finished the game with 38 bench points and forced 25 turnovers, converting those opportunities into 38 points.
The Fire closed the contest with a strong fourth quarter, pushing the margin to as many as 54 points. Southeastern finished the day shooting 55.2 percent overall and 45.5 percent from three-point range, while holding Truett McConnell to 45 total points for the game.
Southeastern is now off until December 29, when the Fire travel to Tallahassee to face Florida A&M in an exhibition contest.
