LAKELAND, Fla. -- SEU Women's Basketball continued its late-December momentum Monday afternoon, earning a 77–62 victory over Milligan at The Furnace to secure its fifth straight win and improve to 13–2 on the season.
The Fire leaned on balance, efficiency, and a decisive third-quarter push to pull away from a Milligan team that kept things tight early. The opening quarter featured back-and-forth play with Milligan edging ahead 18–17, but Southeastern settled in defensively in the second period, matching the Buffaloes point for point to take a 34–30 lead into halftime.
Out of the break, Southeastern delivered its most complete stretch of the game. The Fire shot 57.1 percent from the field in the third quarter and outscored Milligan 23–14, building a double-digit cushion that shifted control firmly in their favor. Southeastern would lead by as many as 17 points during the run, sparked by crisp ball movement and efficient perimeter shooting.
Mya Herman turned in a solid performance, pouring in a career-high 27 points on 11-of-18 shooting while knocking down five three-pointers. The outburst marked Herman's third 20-point game in the past four contests and her sixth of the season. She was particularly effective during Southeastern's third-quarter surge, stretching the defense with timely makes from deep and attacking gaps when Milligan closed out aggressively.
Grace Field added another strong interior performance, recording her sixth double-double of the season with 16 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. Field was a steady presence in the paint on both ends, helping Southeastern finish with a 38–37 rebounding edge while converting high-percentage looks around the rim.
Southeastern's offense was defined by balance and ball movement throughout the afternoon. Nine different Fire players found the scoring column, underscoring the team's depth and unselfish approach.
Mafalda Chambel orchestrated the offense, dishing out eight assists to go with her defensive presence, consistently putting teammates in position to score during key stretches of the game.
The Fire finished the contest shooting 51.7 percent from the field and an impressive 57.1 percent from three-point range (8-of-14), while also converting nearly 78 percent of their free throws. Southeastern held Milligan to 36.8 percent shooting and limited the Buffaloes' ability to generate second-chance opportunities, allowing just four second-chance points.
The bench continued to be a difference-maker, contributing 24 points and providing steady energy that allowed Southeastern to maintain pressure even as rotations shifted. The Fire also turned defense into offense, capitalizing on key stops and moving the ball efficiently in transition to keep Milligan from mounting a sustained comeback.
With the non-conference slate concluding on a high note, SEU now turns its attention back to Sun Conference play. The Fire return to league action on Saturday, traveling to Babson Park, for a 2 p.m. matchup at Webber International.
