Both the Southeastern women and men’s basketball teams each notched crucial sweeps of Arkansas-Monticello and Southern Arkansas in Great American Conference action at Bloomer Sullivan Arena last week.
Coach Darin Grover’s women posted nearly identical victories, notching a 75-55 triumph over Monticello and 7456 facing Southern. They improved to 15-7 overall and 12-4 in league play and just one win from clinching a berth in the postseason tournament to be held in Fort Smith, Arkansas.
The men remained in conference playoff contention with the two triumphs, downing Monticello, 71-57, before holding off Southern Arkansas in the finale by an 87-82 count.
Animportantthree-gameroadstretch is next for each club as they visit Southwestern, Arkansas Tech and Harding ahead of the home finale Thursday, February 27 with Oklahoma Baptist.
Women
Hitting five first period three-pointers, the Savage Storm raced to a 25-10 advantage in the Monticello win and never looked back from there.
They were up 37-24 at intermission and 58-40 through three stanzas before coasting the rest of the way while shooting 46 percent from the field and limiting the Cotton Blossoms to 37 percent.
Caitlin Kobiske fueled the attack inside with 26 points while Kenzli Warden hit seven of 11 shots from the field to post 17 points to go along with nine rebounds. Ashton Hackler also broke the double figure barrier with 10.
Saturday’s Southern Arkansas win had a little different feel as it was the Savage Storm that got off to the slow start and trailed 20-12 through one frame before putting it all together.
Southeastern once again scorched the nets for five treys in the second stanza and limited Southern to just three of 16 shooting to take the lead for good and build a 34-26 cushion at the break.
It was all Savage Storm following the break as they outscored the visitors 18-14 in the third period and 22-16 in the finale to pull away.
Kobiske had another strong outing, connecting for a gamehigh 25 points on eight of 13 shooting from the field. Warden contributed 20 as she also sank eight of 14 field goal tries on the day.
Hackler ended with 11 points with Holli Lindley adding eight points and seven rebounds.
Men
After spotting Monticello a 10-0 lead in the opening minutes, the Savage Storm turned things on, sinking nine three pointers before intermission to take a commanding 40-22 edge at the break.
Despite not shooting quite as well in the second half, Southeastern controlled the glass with a 42-29 rebounding edge for the game and cruised by the Boll Weevils emphatically.
Freshman D.J. Dill led the shooting charge, hitting six of 11 from the field including four treys, on the way to a team-high 21 points to go with nine rebounds.
Chandler Dickinson also connected for four threepointers on the way to 16 points and narrowly missed a double-double with nine rebounds.
Landon Condiff tossed in 12 points, Robert Briley had 10 with Santiago Camacho Gomez contributing five, Tyler Long three and Jalen Williams and Ethan Wilkerson two each.
Southeastern once again shook off a sluggish start against Southern Arkansas, riding a late first half wave to a 38-34 lead at the half.
Each team caught fire in a high-scoring second half in which both sizzled the nets for over 50 percent shooting.
The Savage Storm lead grew to as many as eight points before the Muleriders stormed back to take a 71-69 advantage with 5:39 left to play. Southeastern refused to fold, pulling even on a pair of Camacho Gomez free throws with 2:42 and grabbed the lead for good moments later on a Dill three pointer.
Condiff posted a team-leading 21 points, topping four double figure scorers with nine of 13 shootings from the field. Dickinson posted 17, hitting a trio of treys, while Williams pitched in 14 and Camacho Gomez reached 10.
Briley just missed a doubledouble with nine points and 12 rebounds inside. Dill scored seven, Wilkerson had six and Long added three.
