LAKELAND, Fla.- On November 23rd, Southeastern traveled to Bryan and came up three points short in a tightly contested overtime game.
The Fire got a rematch with the 25th-ranked Lions Wednesday night at the Sportsplex and took advantage of the opportunity, and came away with a 73-64 win.
It was the first time in the program's history the Fire has defeated a Top 25 team.
"We've grown a lot over the past six weeks," said coach Drew Watson. "It's good to see the team fight back the way they did tonight."
After the Fire scored the first six points of the game, the Lions scored the next 11 to take a five-point lead with 14:51 to play in the half.
Trailing 13-8 with 13:54 left in the opening 20 minutes, the Fire went on an 8-0 run to go up a point with 11:39 to go. Southeastern took their biggest lead of the half on a three-pointer by freshman Cassidy Block just before the half expired to give her team a 38-30 lead at the intermission.
The lead grew to 11 when Hannah Demarest connected on a three on their first possession of the second half. Again, the Lions answered with a 9-0 run to make it a one-possession game with16:49 to go.
Bryan tied the game for the fifth time with a pair of free throws by Kristin Lane with 5:55 to go. This was the start of a 7-0 run to help Bryan take a 60-55 lead with 4:31 left.
"To be up 11 and in control, and let them back in (the game) and give them the lead, that could have taken our heart," said Watson.
But, it did not.
The Fire stormed back with a 9-1 run to take a 64-61 lead with 94 seconds to play. The last six points of the run were scored by freshman Bailey Hooker.
Bryan was able to tie the contest at 64 on a three by Keila Formont with 1:10 to play, but the Fire scored the last nine points of the night to close out the contest.
Hooker scored a team-high 15 points, had three rebounds, two assists, and blocked a shot. Rachel Turner added 12 points, and Block and Alyssa Ramos each scored 11. Tiara Young hauled in a team-high six rebounds and scored nine points and had three steals.
Southeastern will next take the floor on January 4th as they host Sun Conference foe Warner.
