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SE’s Brianna Wietelman shoots the ball. Matt Swearengin | Durant Democrat -
SE’s Kyle Leslie shoots the ball in a receng game with Harding. Matt Swearengin | Durant Democrat
Two big home victories last week kept the Southeastern men atop the Great American Conference standings while the Savage Storm women used a pair of wins as well to remain in conference tournament contention.
Winning back-to-back games for just the third time this season, the Southeastern women picked up a 5030 triumph against rival East Central as well as toppling Southwestern, 68-64.
The Savage Storm winning streak reached nine straight as they outlasted East Central, 82-75, before throttling Southwestern, 84-52, in the weekend finale to avenge an earlier defeat.
Both teams are back home this weekend against Ouachita Baptist on Thursday and Henderson State Saturday afternoon.
Women
Defense was the story in the East Central victory as the Savage Storm held the visitors to just 19 percent shooting for the game, including only 12 points in the final two quarters.
The Savage Storm was up 18-7 after one quarter, 29-18 at the half and 37-24 through three frames.
Freshman Kenzli Warden, who earned GAC Player of the Week honors, put together a strong outing with a double-double, posting 12 points, 10 rebounds and three blocked shots.
Grace Alverson tossed in a pair of three pointers and led the Southeastern scoring with 14 points. Caitlin Kobiske and Ashton Hackler added seven apiece with Holli Lindley contributing six points and 13 boards.
Against Southwestern, the Savage Storm trailed 55-51 after three periods before rallying with a strong 17-9 decisive flurry in the fourth.
Warden’s jumper with 3:29 remaining put Southeastern ahead for good and Kobiske sank four icing free throws in the final 14 seconds.
The trio of Warden, Kobiske and Lindley led the charge as they combined for 54 points and 26 rebounds. Warden had 21 points and nine boards, Kobiske scored 17 with seven rebounds and Lindley checked in with 16 points and 10 boards for a double double.
Men
Coach Kelly Green’s squad scorched the nets for 52 percent shooting, including nine first half treys while building a 43-36 halftime edge over rival East Central.
That bulge increased to as much as 18 points with 12 minutes remaining as the Savage Storm coasted home to victory from there in front of a season-best crowd of 2,274.
FiveSavageStormplayersreached double figures, spurred by 23 points from Kody Clouet, who canned four treys. Landon Condiff sank six three pointers on the way to 20 points and eight rebounds.
Brennan Burns narrowly missed a triple double with 14 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds. Kyle Leslie and Robert Briley tossed in 10 points apiece.
It was all Southeastern in a dominant first half versus Southwestern as the Savage Storm romped to a 5420 halftime lead while sizzling the nets for 69 percent first half shooting, including eight three pointers before the break. The Bulldogs meanwhile sank just 29 percent in the opening 20 minutes.
Burns tallied a team-high 17 points and nine assists to once again notch GAC Player of the Week honors for the fourth time this season despite playing just 28 minutes in the blowout.
That was just one of six Southeastern players to register double figures as Clouet pumped in 13, Briley had 12 points, Chandler Dickinson and Elijah Hughey pitched in 11 apiece and Condiff scored 10.