Second Half Lifts SE Past Rival Tigers

DURANT, Okla. – Southeastern shot 50 percent from the field and hit 8-of-19 three pointers to take sole possession of third place in the league standings with a 70-58 win over rival East Central on Thursday night in the home finale at Bloomer Sullivan Arena.
 
The win lifts the Savage Storm to 19-8 overall on the year and 12-7 in Great American Conference play heading into the regular season finale on the road against Southwestern Oklahoma State at 1 p.m. on Feb. 28 in Weatherford, Okla.
 
SE trailed by four heading into the locker room at halftime down 32-28 despite a solid 52.2 percent shooting effort.
 
It was the emergence of Shelby Hill over the final 20 minutes that helped lift the Storm as she scored all 13 of her points in the second half, including a 4-of-4 effort form behind the three point line.
 
SE finished with seven threes in the second half after just one in the first.
 
Overall, Emily Williams continued to dominate as she posted 17 points on 6-of-10 shooting and a 5-of-6 effort at the free throw line while also hauling in seven rebounds and dishing out four assists.
 
In addition to her 17 and Hill's 13, Taylor Richards added 10 on a 4-of-6 effort form the field and dished out a team-best five assists.
 
Kaylie Baxter also added four assists and seven points, but did her damage on the boards with a team-high 10.
 
SE dished out 17 assists as a team, and limited itself to 12 turnovers.
 
ECU opened the game on an early run and stretched its lead to double figures at 15-5 by the 13:46 mark of the first half.
 
The Storm would rally from that deficit and eventually tie the game in the first half before the Tiger jumped ahead for a 32-28 lead at the half.
 
SE finally took its first lead of the second half on a pair of Williams' free throws just under three minutes into the half.
 
The teams would briefly exchange the advantage before three-straight threes form SE would open up a 44-37 edge with 14:02 to play.
 
That lead would grow to as many as 15 points before settling on the final score of 70-58.