Southeastern Tripped up at ATU

Box Score RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – Southeastern got 30 points from Emily Williams, but could not take advantage on the road as the Savage Storm were tripped up by Arkansas Tech 79-76 in Russellville, Ark. on Monday evening.
 
The loss drops SE to 13-11 on the year and 10-8 in Great American Conference play with its next matchup on the road in Ada, Okla., to face East Central at 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 27.
 
The 30 by Williams is a career high and a season-best for the team, and also marks the first time a player has scored 30-or-more points in a game since Tera Newnam put up 44 on Feb. 24, 2003 in an overtime loss at Southwestern Oklahoma State.  It was her second-straight 20-plus point outing and the ninth of her season which ties her for the most 20-point games ion the GAC.
 
She turned her game up a notch in the second half, turning in 26 of her 30 points in the final 20 minutes, hitting 6-of-7 from the floor, including a 4-of-5 mark from long range, while also hitting 10-of-11 free throw tries.
 
She also led the way on the glass with 11 points to complete the double-double, her seventh of the year.
 
Ronay English came off the bench to add 13 points, while Breana Small-Peppers was next in line with nine.
 
SE held an edge in second chance points by a 15-8 margin, while ATU had the advantage in points off turnover and points in the paint.
 
The Golden Suns scored the game's first five points and would lead for the entire first half, pushing their advantage out to 12-4 with 11:32 to go in the half in a slow starting game.
 
The Storm would get as close as four points in the half, but a 14-6 run would give ATU a 36-23 lead with 1:57 to go in the half.
 
SE would score five of the last six points in the half and cut the deficit to 37-28 at the break.
 
The Storm continued to cut away the deficit to open the second hald, closing to 41-39 by the 15:18 mark on an English three.
 
That would later narrow to a one point difference on a Natalie Ruud jumper with 13:59 to play.
 
A Haley Schaefer free throw with 12:46 remaining would tie the game for the first time and a Williams three with 10:55 to go would give the Storm its first lead of the game at 52-51.
 
SE would stretch the advantage to four points before a 7-0 run erased the lead and left the Storm behind 60-57 with 8:06 to go.
 
Southeastern would eventually use a 12-3 run to turn a three-point deficit into its largest lead of the game at 72-66 with 3:33 to play.
 
ATU, however, would answer and tie the game on a pair of Anissa Pounds free throws with 1:52 to play.
 
The Suns would outscore the Storm 5-2 over the final 1:52 to hand SE the 79-76 loss.