Opening the season last weekend in Minnesota, the Southeastern women’s basketball team got a solid one-two punch from returnee Kenzli Warden and newcomer Tori Kilburn.
The remainder of the team however shot just 26 percent from the field as the Savage Storm ladies dropped outings against Winona State (63-60) and Minnesota- Duluth (81-63).
Coach Darin Grover’s club will be back home for a two-game homestand this week that concludes with a 1 p.m. battle against Arkansas-Fort Smith on Saturday at Bloomer Sullivan Arena.
Southeastern held a 39-34 lead entering the final frame of the Winona State opener, but watched that edge slip away as the hosts capitalized on a strong bench performance to claim the lead for good with 6:37 to play. An 11-0 scoring flurry proved decisive although the Savage Storm tried to rally with a frantic finish.
Abbie Barr’s putback with just six seconds remaining narrowed the gap to just one point but that was as close as Grover’s unit got.
Warden started the season hot from the field, connecting on nine of 15 shots on the way to a team-best 22 points. Kilburn, a freshman, tallied 10 points and eight rebounds to end just shy of a doubledouble in her first collegiate performance. Barr also posted 10 points, including a pair of three pointers.
High-powered Duluth wasted little time in taking control of the trip finale, exploding out of the gate to a 25-11 advantage behind 53 percent shooting compared to just 30 percent for the Savage Storm.
The lead advanced to 47-27 at intermission and Southeastern connected on only two of 15 field goal tries in the third frame alone.
Kilburn pumped in a teamleading 23 points on an efficient seven of nine shooting performance in just 19 minutes played. Warden tallied 14 points and seven boards with Akiera Hawk chipping in eight points.
In total, 15 players saw action for Southeastern.