BRADENTON, Fla. – The Fire used quick starts to each half for Wednesday night success. Courtni Demorest and Southeastern University blazed past New College of Florida, 70-43, in Sun Conference women's basketball play.
Demorest drained the opening six points of the game, both on 3-pointers and started the second 20 minutes with another triple to start an 11-0 surge and 19-point lead, 46-27. After Mya Herman hit a jumper, Demorest added three free throws, a layup and a jumper around a second Herman bucket and completed a 20-3 first five minutes of the third quarter. New College would not challenge the visitors over the final 15 minutes of action.
With the victory, SEU (22-4) improved to 12-2 in the Sun Conference and swept New College (9-15/2-11 Sun Conference) in the season series after a 68-30 final in Lakeland back on Jan. 11. It was also the Fire's five win in a row and third-straight 'W' over the Banyans.
Demorest connected for a pair of 3-pointers in each half and made 7 of 14 field goals and all three foul shots for her career-high 21-point effort. The senior scored six in the first and two in the second, before she exploded for 13 points of the team's 25 tallies in period number three. She also handed out three assists, two rebounds and a steal.
Fellow senior Jodi Mullins dropped 8 of 17 attempts with one trey for 19 points right behind Demorest. The guard also grabbed five rebounds, handed out two assists and swiped two passes.
Herman chipped in 13 points on 6 of 11 tries with three steals, two rebounds and two assists.
Anaya Coleman and Grace Field provided all-around games. Coleman pulled in seven rebounds to go with five points, four assists and a steal. Field dished seven assists, while she had four steals, three points and two caroms.
Off the bench, Alley Haas dropped a trio of 3-pointers for nine points. Arian Smuda had four rebounds and Rosa Sorribes two steals.
Sierra Moore guided the home team with 12 points.
SEU returns to The Furnace on Saturday evening, Feb. 15, in a 5 p.m. tip against Warner University.
