Southeastern Claims Sun Conference Women’s Basketball Tourney in Dominating Fashion
Donnie Smith
LAKELAND, Fla.—For the second season in a row, the Southeastern women's basketball team climbed a ladder at The Furnace in February to cut down the nets after winning The Sun Conference Tournament title.
Five players were in double figures in scoring, helping the Fire pick up their 26
th straight victory an defeat St. Thomas 102-54.
"We have some amazing players," said coach
Tim Hays. "The obvious thing is when you put together a season like this is consistency. For 26 straight nights, these girls have done everything we've asked of them. They've been incredibly complete and balanced as a team."
The Fire jumped out to a 15-2 lead with 4:30 left in the first quarter, with six of those points coming off the hands of senior
Bailey Hooker, who finished with 19 points. The first quarter closed with the Fire on a 16-6 run to take a 34-14 lead after 10 minutes of play.
Cassidy Block scored four of her 12 points during that span, and
Trisha Jacobs also chipped in four.
Southeastern was 22-of-29 from the field in the first half (76%) and went 9-of-13 (69%) from beyond the arc, and led 57-28 at the break.
"Tonight, everyone was on and we finished the job, and I'm really proud of them," said Hays.
Defensively, the Fire held St. Thomas to just 28% from the field for the game and 23% from 3-point range. Desanta' Franklin-Jordan led all scorers with 24 points, eight rebounds, two assists, and three steals.Franklin-Jordan and Emily May were selected to the All-Tournament Team for their efforts.
A strong post presence from Tournament Most Valuable Player
Christin Strawbridge and
Sarah Green controlled the second half. Strawbridge scored 10 of her 16 points in the second, and added 13 rebounds, four assists and a steal. Green was dominant in her 23 minutes of play, scoring 12 points, grabbing 12 rebounds, and blocked six shots, along with numerous other deflections.
Ana Richter led the Fire with 20 points, and added nine rebounds, three assists, two steals, and a block. The Fire outrebounded St. Thomas 52-27.
Richter and Hooker joined Strawbridge on the All-Tournament Team.
With the win, the Fire clinched an automatic bid to the NAIA Division II Women's National Championship in Sioux City, Iowa. First-Round games begin March 8
th.
All-Tournament Team
Danielle Bailey, Florida Memorial
Kaylee Patton, Keiser
Desanta' Franklin-Jordan, St. Thomas
Emily May, St. Thomas
Bailey Hooker, Southeastern
Ana Richter, Southeastern
Christin Strawbridge, Southeastern
Tournament Most Valuable Player
Christin Strawbridge, Southeastern