The intensity was palpable. Two undefeated teams slugging it out to remain unbeaten.

The Southeastern Oklahoma State University women and the Tarleton State TexAnns gave the fans at Bloomer Sullivan Arena quite a show on Monday night, with neither team having more than a four-point lead in the second half, before the Storm finally closed out their ninth win of the season, 72-68.

“It was a dog fight, wasnít it?” said head coach Darin Grover after the game. “From the tip to the end of the game, it was just a dog fight. You had two teams that were very evenly matched. But hey, thatís what we expected and I’ll take the win.

“The defenses of both teams played exceptionally tough, with Southeastern limiting the TexAnns to 38.2 percent shooting on the night, while Tarleton returned the favor, limiting Southeasternís league-leading offense to 40.8 percent for the game.

“They are just so aggressive on defense,” Grover said. “As soon as you get the ball they’re there, right on you. The only thing you can do is be aggressive yourself and take it in, and take it in strong.

“All the aggressive defensive play led to 51 fouls called, and 66 free throws attempted between the two teams, with the Storm making 26 of 38 from the line.

“I don’t know what’s going on with our free throw shooting the last couple of games. If we make our free throws maybe it’s not that close,” Grover said.

Southeastern trailed 65-62 with about three minutes left in the game, when all-everything senior Destiny Brown brought the Storm back.

Brown scored a bucket, blocked a shot attempt on the other end, and then drew a foul while scoring on the next possession, and hit the free throw to put Southeastern back on top 67-65.

“What else can you say about Destiny,” Grover said. “She’s just a great, great player. She’s probably one of the best players to ever come through Southeastern, and a two sport star on top of that. She’s been a marquis player in our program the last three years. We obviously wouldnít be where we’re at without her.

“After Tarleton hit one of two free throws to cut the lead to one, christen Nichols came through for the Storm, hitting a 16-foot jumper, and then getting fouled on the next possession and connecting on one of two free throws to give the Storm a four-point advantage with only 7.3 seconds left.

The TexAnns were not finished though, quickly hitting a jumper to cut the lead back to two, at 70-68, then fouling Southeastern’s Kacey Russell with 3.3 seconds left.

Russelll calmly stepped to the line and knocked down both free throws to ice the win. For the game, Brown led the Storm with 18 points on 6 of 11 shooting, while Russell and Nichols had 14 each.

For the TexAnns, Brittney Haley led the scoring with 18, in spite of only hitting 2 of 11 from the floor. She drew foul after foul in the second half, and made 14 of 15.

“No. 21 just killed us from the line, she kept getting the offensive board and getting fouled,” Grover said. “You know their whole team played extremely hard, and in my opinion they’re the best team in the South, and we’re the best team in the Lone Star Conference — period.”