DURANT, Okla. — Grit proved to be Southern Nazarene's greatest weapon Wednesday evening as they overcame a tough shooting day to defeat Southeastern Oklahoma 47-43, making that the second win over SEOSU this season.
Shooting just 24% from the field and 14% from behind the arc, the Storm (11-4, 8-1 GAC) were at an offensive low against the home team. The Savage Storm (4-10, 2-7 GAC) were no better, shooting 28% on the day and 14% from three, making this one of the lowest-scoring games SNU has seen all season. Crunch-time free throws made all the difference as SNU knocked down 12 of their 17 in the fourth quarter, keeping the Savage Storm far enough away in the last few possessions of the ballgame.
The Crimson Storm struggled to find a rhythm right from the jump, scoring just seven field goals alone in the first half and only knocking down two of their nine three-point attempts. Trailing by six after quarter one, SNU put together a 9-0 run midway through the second quarter that would help build a 22-17 lead at the end of the half.
Both of the Storms would battle back and forth to start the second half. The Crimson Storm worked to an eight-point lead in the third with just under three minutes left, but SEOSU wouldn't back down, fighting their way to reclaim the lead at 32-31 at the end of the third.
Offensive struggles heightened in the fourth quarter as both teams combined for 4-21 from the field and 0-6 from the three. Free throws were the highlight of the last 10 minutes as both teams exchanged points from the charity stripe for the majority of the quarter. Leading by one with a minute left, SNU pulled together a solid 60 seconds, forcing turnovers and fouls on the Savage Storm to earn them more trips to the line.
Leading by four with 20 seconds remaining, SEOSU dropped in a bucket to bring the game within two at 45-43 with just 11 seconds on the clock. Forced to foul, SEOSU sent Payton Jones to the line for two, where she knocked down both for the Crimson Storm to put them up by four with one final possession left for Southeastern.
The Savage Storm missed the final bucket of the game and Southern Nazarene scraped up the 47-43 win over the Savage Storm, making that their second victory over SEOSU this season.
Emily Monaghan led in scoring with 13 points followed by five boards.
Cassandra Awatt picked up her sixth double-double of the season with 10 points and 15 boards.
Both Awatt and Monaghan finished with five steals.
Jones finished with nine points and four boards while Hannah Giddey finished with six points and three rebounds.
Following the win in Durant, SNU will host East Central Saturday, January 21st at 1:00 p.m. for their second meeting with Tigers this season.
