LAKELAND, Fla. -- Southeastern opens play in the NAIA Women's Basketball National Championship First & Second Rounds presented by Ballogy on Friday in Montgomery, Alabama, as the No. 6 seed in the Duer Bracket. The Fire will face No. 11-seed and host Faulkner at 5 p.m. ET in the opening round, marking a rematch of the teams' season opener in Lakeland earlier this year.
The other first-round matchup in the Montgomery bracket features No. 3-seed Lindsey Wilson against No. 14-seed Williams Baptist, with the two winners meeting Saturday, March 14. The victor from the bracket will earn a spot at the NAIA Women's Basketball National Championship final site, scheduled for March 19–24 at the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City, Iowa.
Fans can follow the action live through the Urban Edge Network App, available on smart TVs and mobile devices, or online at
urbanedgenetwork.net. Live statistics will also be provided throughout the contest, while updates, highlights, and postgame coverage will be available across Southeastern Athletics social media platforms.
Southeastern enters the tournament with a 27–3 overall record and a 15–1 mark in Sun Conference play. The Fire have won 13 consecutive games heading into the national championship and have been strong in all settings this season, posting a 17–1 record at home, an 8–1 mark on the road, and a 2–1 record in neutral-site contests.
Offensively, Southeastern ranks among the most efficient teams in the NAIA. The Fire average 77.7 points per game while shooting 47.4 percent from the field, ranking fourth nationally. Southeastern also sits second in the country in three-point percentage at 38.0 percent and 19th in free throw percentage at 75.2 percent, while averaging 17.3 assists per game.
Defensively, the Fire have been just as effective, allowing only 55.3 points per game to rank 13th nationally. Opponents are held to 38.0 percent shooting from the field and 27.7 percent from three-point range, while Southeastern also averages 12.0 steals per game and maintains a strong turnover margin.
Southeastern has built a consistent presence on the national stage, making nine appearances in the NAIA Women's Basketball National Championship. The Fire reached the national quarterfinals in both 2017 and 2018 before advancing to the national championship game during the 2018–19 season. Southeastern also qualified for the tournament in 2014–15 and 2015–16, returned in 2019–20 when the event was canceled after the opening round due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and most recently made appearances in 2021–22, 2023–24, and 2024–25.
Senior guard
Mya Herman leads the Fire offensively, averaging 17.3 points per game while shooting 52.9 percent from the field and 44.3 percent from three-point range. Herman also contributes 3.7 rebounds and nearly two steals per contest, providing consistent scoring and perimeter defense.
Grace Field has been one of the most complete players in the Sun Conference this season. The forward averages 15.2 points and a conference-leading 9.6 rebounds per game while also contributing 3.8 assists and 2.6 steals per contest. Field's efficiency stands out as well, as she shoots nearly 59 percent from the field.
Alley Haas provides Southeastern with another perimeter scoring option and ranks among the conference's top three-point shooters. Haas averages 7.6 points per game and has connected on 66 three-pointers this season while shooting 42.6 percent from beyond the arc.
Point guard
Mafalda Chambel directs the Fire offense and ranks among the conference leaders with 127 assists on the season, averaging 4.2 per game. Chambel adds 5.0 points and over two rebounds per contest while helping control the pace and distribution for Southeastern's offense.
Southeastern also receives key contributions from several additional players.
Sarah Davis averages 7.9 points per game while shooting nearly 40 percent from three-point range, while
Kristiana Kulackovska adds 7.9 points and 3.7 rebounds per contest.
Ellah Kissell rounds out the group with efficient perimeter shooting and steady minutes off the bench, helping provide depth throughout the Fire rotation.
Faulkner enters the tournament with a 21–8 overall record and a 13–4 mark in conference play. The Eagles average 74.9 points per game while allowing 61.0, combining balanced scoring with strong rebounding production at 41.0 boards per contest. Ruthie Smith leads the team with 14.2 points and 8.0 rebounds per game, while Morgan Holland DeWitt adds 11.2 points and 7.6 rebounds. Keyarra Scottland (10.2 ppg) and Avery Rogers (8.7 ppg) provide additional scoring, with Rogers shooting over 44 percent from three-point range.
Southeastern holds a 3–1 advantage in the all-time series against Faulkner and has won the last three meetings. The teams first met during the 2010 season, with Faulkner claiming a 79–61 victory in Lakeland. Since then, the Fire have won matchups at a neutral site in 2014 (71–67) and 2023 (70–64), before edging the Eagles 60–58 in Lakeland to open the 2025–26 season.
Southeastern has limited history with the other potential opponents in the Montgomery bracket. The Fire have never faced Williams Baptist, making a potential second-round matchup the first meeting between the programs. Southeastern has split two previous meetings with Lindsey Wilson, with the series tied 1–1. The Blue Raiders won the first matchup 74–59 in Lakeland during the 2014 season, while Southeastern claimed the most recent meeting with a 56–52 victory at a neutral site in 2024.
