Storm Set to Open GAC Tourney vs. HSU

DURANT, Okla. – After closing out the regular season in a tie for fourth-place in the Great American Conference standings, Southeastern will next trek into the postseason beginning with a 5:45 p.m. matchup on March 6 versus Henderson State in the quarterfinals of the GAC Tournament at Northside Arena in Fort Smith, Ark.
 
The Savage Storm head in as the No. 5 seed after finishing tied for fourth with the Reddies who got the No. 4 seed on a tiebreaker.
 
SE enters the postseason with a 16-12 record on the year after posting a 13-9 mark in conference play, finishing the year on a four-game winning streak and taking 11 of its last 12 matchups.
 
The reigning Freshman of the Year Tori Kilburn makes her first trip to the conference tournament as the team's leading scorer at 19.6 ppg while shooting 54.9 percent from the field. In addition she leads the way on the boards with 7.7 rebounds per contest, and is handing out 2.7 assists per game, 1.0 blocks per game, and 1.5 steals per game.
 
Kenzli Warden picked up second team All-GAC honors on the eve of the tournament and enters the postseason averaging 15.9 ppg on the season and is second in line on the team on the glass with 6.8 rebounds per game.
 
Mackenzie Espinosa is next in line with 7.0 ppg, while Akiera Hawk is adding 6.3 per outing, while Stevie Stinchcomb is handing out a team-leading 3.7 assists per game.
 
Southeastern and HSU have split their games this season, with the Storm dropping an early-season matchup 91-58 before avenging that loss in the second half of the season with a 91-67 win.
 
The Reddies enter the postseason with a 17-9 record overall and a 13-9 mark in conference play for the year, matching the Storm conference mark.
 
Natalie Cardenas leads a foursome of double-digit scorers with 18.4 ppg on the year while Grayson Fairless is averaging a double-double with 12.2 ppg and 10.0 rebounds per contest.
 
The winner of Friday evenings game will advance to take on the winner between top-seeded Harding and No. 8 seed Southern Nazarene in the semifinals which are set for 5:45 p.m. on Saturday, March 7, with the finals of the event slated for 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 8.