SE Falls On Senior Night To Rival ECU

Southeastern erased a 12 point halftime deficit to tie the game midway through the second half, but could not push past and gain a lead, falling to rival East Central 69-62 on senior night in Bloomer Sullivan Arena.

The loss drops the Savage Storm to 10-15 on the season and 8-11 in Great American Conference play with one regular season contest remaining, that being a Saturday afternoon matchup against Harding in Searcy, Ark. at 2 p.m.

Cheree Kiser turned in a game-high 19 points to lead SE on offense, while senior Bailey Welch turned in 13 points and eight assists in the effort.

Natalie Ruud came off the bench as well to turn in 11.

Kiser also led the rebounding effort with eight as the Storm were outrebounded 58-to-47.

Southeastern's bench came up big with 39 points and SE held a slight edge in the paint, but the Tigers took advantage of its rebounding edge and posted a 19-4 advantage in second-chance points.

A Ronay English three opened the game with the Storm in front, but ECU answered with a 10-0 run to take the lead.

SE would close that gap to 12-10 with 11:41 to play in the half on a Kiser bucket, but a 13-0 run would leave the Storm in a 15 point deficit with 8:33 to play in the first half.

The Tigers would push their lead out to 19 points before a 9-0 SE run capped by a Kiser bucket with nine seconds to play in the half made the score 37-27.

ECU, however, would get the final bucket of the half and take a 39-27 lead at halftime.

The deficit would range between eight and 12 points for most of the second half until an 11-0 run powered by threes from Natalie Ruud and Kiser and capped by a pair of Ruud free throws would knot the game at 52-52 with 9:24 to play.

The Tigers would answer with the next four points and SE would twice cut the deficit back down to two points but could get no closer, falling 69-62.