After a grueling start to begin conference play, the Southeastern women’s basketball team finally got in the win column twice over with a sweep of home tilts with Southern Arkansas and Arkansas-Monticello last weekend.
Darin Grover’s women were 68-54 winners against Southern Arkansas and 62-33 over Monticello. Southeastern’s men got the first one as well, 96-87 over Southern, but couldn’t get much going to settle for a split in a loss to Monticello (71-66).
The Savage Storm begin a four-game road swing this weekend with a trek to northern Arkansas at Harding and Arkansas Tech.
Women
Junior Kenzli Warden proved to be the catalyst in the Southeastern resurgence by posting a double-double in each contest.
She began with a 19-point, 11-rebound effort against Southern Arkansas as the Savage Storm took command down the stretch in a dominant fourth stanza. Defense was a major key as they forced 18 Muleriders turnovers which led directly to 19 points. They also shot 50 percent
player.
from the field in the final stanza.
Warden was just one of four Southeastern players to reach double figures with Stevie Stinchcomb contributing a season- best 15 points along with 13 apiece from Tori Kilburn and Mackenzie Espinosa. Kilburn also dished out nine assists, narrowly missing another double- double.
Defense was the story in the Monticello matchup as the visitors shot just 17 percent for the game, including a woeful 1 of 18 from three-point range.
It was a 12-9 Southeastern lead at the end of one period, 2815 at halftime and 45-23 following the third as they steadily pulled away.
Warden reeled off the doubledouble with 10 points and 10 rebounds despite Espinosa being the scoring leader with 15. Kilburn added 12 points and seven boards as Stinchcomb scored eight.
Men
Everything seemed to be clicking for the Savage Storm in the Southern Arkansas outing as they shot more than 47 percent, which included 10 three pointers, while also cashing in a host of turnovers for 19 points.
Coach Kelly Green’s squad was also exceptional at the charity stripe as they canned 32 of 36 for a scorching 89 percent.
Senior Chandler Dickinson fueled the assault with five treys while pumping a career high 29 points.
Ethan Wilkerson blistered the nets on 10 of 13 shooting to also contribute a big performance with 26 points. Jamal Drewery and Deondre Dunn notched 11 points apiece.
Southeastern held its own on the boards against Monticello big man Josh Smith, but couldn’t contain the center very well offensively as he poured in a season-high 30 points while also adding eight rebounds.
The game was tied at 32 at intermission but the Boll Weevils took the lead in the final half.
It was Wilkerson’s chance to lead the offensive charge with 16 points on seven of 11 shooting. Dickinson also tallied 14 with Drewery tossing in 11 and Ethan Scott with 10.
Drewery is shown in the game with Arkansas-
