SE Topples Tech For Third-Straight Win

DURANT, Okla. – Five Southeastern players scored in double-figures and the Savage Storm bench exploded for 36 points en route to an 80-68 win over Arkansas Tech on Saturday afternoon in Bloomer Sullivan Arena.
 
The win lifts the Savage Storm to 18-8 overall and 11-7 in Great American Conference play heading into the final week of the season which includes the home finale against rival East Central on Feb. 26 and a season-ending road trip to Southwestern Oklahoma State on Feb. 28.
 
The wins also move SE into a tie with ECU for third place in the standings heading into their matchup on Thursday.
 
Saturday was senior day for Emily Williams, Cheree Kiser and Haley Schaefer, and while Schaefer was unable to play due to her injury, the other two each turned in double-digit performances.
 
Williams continued to dominate, finishing the game with 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting with three three-point buckets, while Kiser added 10 off the bench on 4-of-9 shooting.
 
But while it was senior day, sophomore Olivia Potter got in on the action as well with a 17 point outing with five threes, four of which came in the second half.
 
Fellow sophomore Rachel Wallace added 12 points, all coming in the second half, while Taylor Richards put up 12 of her own.
 
The offense was clicking, hitting 46.0 percent for the game on the strength of a 55.2 percent second half effort.
 
The Storm also took advantage of its long distance shooting prowess, hitting 13-of-35 threes to ATU's 3-of-15.
 
Despite posting 17 points, Williams also dished the ball effectively to the tune of seven assists, while Kaylie Baxter added five and Richards and Emem David each chipped in three.  As a team they combined for 23 assists on 29 made baskets.
 
David posted her highest rebounding total of the season with nine, while Williams added six and Baxter chipped in four.
 
The game started slow and stayed tight throughout the first half with each team holding leads, but its stayed almost entirely within one possession with ATU opening up the largest lead of five points near the 15 minute mark.
 
SE would jump out to a 25-31 lead late in the half, but the Golden Suns would get a buzzer beater at the half to cut the Storm edge to 35-33 at the break.
 
ATU would come out of the locker room and tie the game on the first possession, but the Storm would answer with a 9-2 run to open up a 44-37 lead by the 17:06 mark.
 
Southeastern would maintain its lead throughout the half, pushing it to double figures on a Potter three with 8:42 to play and eventually stretching it to 70-56 on another Potter three with 5:00 to play.
 
ATU would get as close as eight in the final stretch, but SE would pull away in the final two minutes for the 80-68 win.