Storm Fall in Home Return Versus SAU

DURANT, Okla. – Despite a 20-point effort from Caitlin Kobiske, Southeastern would struggle from long range in a 67-52 loss to Southern Arkansas to open home play in the second semester on Thursday night in Bloomer Sullivan Arena.
 
The loss drops the Savage Storm to 4-9 on the season overall and 0-7 in Great American Conference play heading into a Saturday afternoon matchup with Arkansas-Monticello at 1 p.m. back in Bloomer Sullivan Arena.
 
Kobiske was an efficient 9-of-11 from the field en route to her 20 points and nearly closed out the double-double when she pulled down a team-high eight rebounds.
 
Holli Lindley joined her in double-digits with 10 points, while Eryn Dolan was next in line coming off the bench with eight.
 
Kobiske, Lindley, Aimee Alverson, and Dolan each logged two assists, while Lindley registered three blocked shots.
 
SE shot 50 pe4rcent in the first and third quarters, but could never find a rhythm from long range, hitting just 2-of-16 for the game from beyond the arc.
 
Turnovers would prove costly as 22 SE turnovers were converted into 27 points for the Muleriders who employ a full court press throughout the game.
 
SE fell behind early but would keep the game within a possession until SAU pushed its lead to 12-8 at the 3:23 mark of the quarter. From that point it was a Dolan three and a Kobiske bucket that would put the Stom in front and Southeastern would twice lead by three before taking a 17-16 lead into the first quarter break.
 
The Muleriders would regain the lead in the second quarter, pushing their advantage to four points twice, but the Storm would use a 6-0 run to take a 27-25 lead with 2:18 to play in the half before ultimately heading to the halftime break knotted at 27-27.
 
Southeastern scored the first two buckets of the second half on shots by Kobiske and Lindley, but back-to-back SAU threes would give the visitors the lead by the 8:48 mark.
 
The Storm would again reel off six straight, pushing out to a four-point lead with 6:25 to play in the third and taking another four-point lead with 4:41 remaining.
 
SAU would finish the third on an 11-2 run to take a 49-44 lead into the fourth quarter.
 
Eight turnovers in the fourth quarter would keep the Storm from closing the gap as the Muleriders outscored SE 18-8 in the final frame to make the final 67-52.