Storm Upset Bid Slips Away in Second half at SNU

BETHANY, Okla. – Southeastern saw its chance at an upset slip away in the second half as No. 4 Southern Nazarene would pull away over the second 20 minutes to make the final score 68-52 on Saturday afternoon in Bethany, Okla.
 
The loss ends a stretch of consecutive victories by the Savage Storm who slip to 6-12 overall on the year and 2-10 in Great American Conference play.
 
Caitlin Kobiske was the only SE player to reach double-figures as she put up 11 points on the contest while adding five rebounds.
 
Grace Alverson just missed double-digits with nine points, while Kenzli Warden and Bri Wietelman each added eight points.
 
Ashton Hackler and Holli Lindley followed with six apiece.
 
Hackler pulled down a team-high seven rebounds, while Kobiske and Lindley had five boards each.
 
The team's traded threes out of the gate, but SNU would push out to an early lead with a 10-1 run to go in front 13-4 by the 3:39 mark of the first quarter.
 
Hackler would then score her sixth-straight point to open the game and SE would whittle the deficit down to 17-14 at the first quarter break with an Alverson three closing out scoring in the frame.
 
The Storm would quickly close that gap to one point on a Warden bucket to open the second quarter, but SNU would push its lead back to four points a possession later.
 
After the team's combined for nine points over the first minute, the offenses would slow down considerably as a Kobiske jumper at the 6:02 mark would get the Storm to within 22-20, but would be the only offense for either team for a span of 4:33 before the Crimson Storm would connect on a three.
 
SNU would push its lead to as many as eight before Southeastern closed the gap to 30-25 at the half.
 
An Eryn Dolan bucket would get the Storm to within one possession early in the second half, and a Lindley bucket at the 5:45 mark would trim that deficit to 34-32.
 
Unfortunately, SNU would follow by outscoring the Storm 15-5 over the next five minutes, taking a 49-37 lead after three quarters.
 
Southeastern would drain three threes in the fourth quarter but were unable to muster a comeback as the Crimson Storm pulled away to a 68-52 final score.