Southeast storms past SWCC in final quarter

The Southwestern women (0-1) fell in their season opener against Southeast (1-0) 69-55.

The Spartans, who seemingly had the game in half in the third quarter, had an 11-0 run go against them to close the game go against them.

Entering the fourth quarter, it was a 51-47 game with the Spartans holding the lead.

Gradually, the Storm chipped away and extended. A basket from Joisee Sobotka was paired with 3-pointers from Courtney Hanson and Hunter Harshorn to push them to 55-51, now leading.

The Spartans answered with baskets from Alyssa Morris and Brielle Baker to make it a one-score game again at 57-55.

From there, the run started. The Storm sliced through a tired Southwestern team that had no answers on both ends of the court.

Southwestern head coach Bryan Austin said two things contributed to the game slipping out of Southwestern’s fingers after having both a halftime lead and a 12-point lead before the slide.

“Lack of communication. We didn’t communicate. Lack of effort,” said Austin. “Those two things right there can take care of the game.”

Threes fell at the right time for the Storm, helping them bring the difference back.

“We just didn’t cover well defensively. We didn’t do the things we needed to do on the defensive end, or the offensive end,” said Austin. “With no execution, it gives you poor results. ... We just didn’t have that effort in the fourth quarter.”

Entering Wednesday night, Austin said he felt good about where his team was out. With sophomore veterans Brielle Baker and Whynter Waterhouse-Brennen part of the starting five again, the feeling was amplified.`

“I felt really good,” said Austin. “If we would have executed on things we should have executed on, kept the momentum up and kept pushing, then we could have came out on top. ... (Baker and Waterhouse-Brennan) can give some insight to the freshman who didn’t understand the college game and the physicality of it. They’re very helpful for us.”

The Spartans were led in scoring by Alyssa Morris with 17 points. Deja Brown and Baker had 10 points each.

Waterhouse-Brennen contributed four points.

With the first game now in the books for the Southwestern women

“It’s been more so anticipation, really. Great to be on the sideline huffin’ and puffin’,” said Austin with a laugh. “I think it’s just great to be playing. We’ve waited a long time compared to the Div. I, the Div. II, the NAIA’s. ... We’re just glad to be back out there.”

Before the fourth

Early on, the Storm stuggled to connect on shots, but were never far behind the Spartans in the point column.

Back-to-back scores made it a 6-2 game in the first quarter, and the Spartans held the lead until the Storm evened it up at 16-16 off a SWCC turnover.

A turnover on the following possession led to the Storm getting free throw attempts, which they hit one of two.

The Spartans answered back with scores from Deja Brown and Patricia Sherrill. The Spartans closed out their scoring for the quarter on a transition pass to score by Baker making it 33-22.

Threes early in the half by Morris pushed the score to 36-23, but a 7-0 run by the Storm brought the game back to a three point game.

Southeast’s Colby Thies converted from the line twice to even the score at 40-40. Southwestern regained their lead to as much as eight off scores from Kaylynn Tucker, Baker and Brown before Southeast flipped the game, leading to the final.

Southeast 69, Southwestern 55

SOUTHEAST (69) — (FG FT PTS) Totals — 24 10-20 69 Hunter Hartshorn 5 0-0 14, Colby Thies 5 3-4 13, Josie Sobotka 5 1-2 11, Jayse Koehler 4 1-2 10, Courtney Hanson 2 3-8, Jayden Widener 3 2-4 8, Macy Scott 1 0-0 3, Monique Gooden 0 2-4 2. 3-point goals — 3 (Spiegel 3). Team fouls — 8. Fouled out — none.

SWCC (55) — (FG FT PTS) Totals — 22 7-16 55. Alyssa Morris 6 1-2 17, Brielle Baler 2 2-6 10, Deja Brown 4 2-2 10, Patricia Sherrill 3 1-2 7, Kaylynn Tucker 2 1-2 5, Whynter Waterhouse-Brennen 1 0-2 2. 3-point goals — 4 (Morris 4). Team fouls — 10. Fouled out — None.