BETHANY, Okla. - Southern Nazarene continued to prove their home court advantage as they took down the Savage Storm of Southeastern inside the Sawyer Center. The Crimson Storm won the battle of the Storms 68-52 over SE.

The Crimson Storm (18-0, 12-0 GAC) tacked on their fifth win in a row over the Savage Storm (6-12, 2-10 GAC) which dates back to 2022. Southeastern entered the match-up in Bethany coming off of a two-game win streak that SNU eventually snapped. 

Southern Nazarene got off on the right foot as Abbie Jiles drained a three to put the Crimson Storm on the board first. SE responded immediately with their own three to tie the score early. SNU went to work in the paint stretching their early lead to 13-6. Southeastern took back some momentum with a three-ball, but SNU was unphased.

Hannah Giddey then found a cutting Georgia Adams who laid one in to tack on two more for the Crimson Storm. The Savage Storm continued to shoot it well, finishing the first quarter with another long ball to cut the Southern Nazarene lead to 17-14 at the end of the first quarter. 

A quick layup from Southeastern cut the deficit to one before Adams was fouled, sending her to the charity stripe. Adams would receive three shots and hit all three, stretching the Storm lead 20-16. Southeastern responded with their own trip to the foul line cutting the SNU lead once again. 

From there, the two squads continued to trade points each possession. Lauryn Reither found Adams who knocked down a long ball to push the Crimson Storm ahead 28-22. Reither was fouled sending her to the charity stripe as she tacked on two more points for SNU. Southeastern got the last shot in before the halftime buzzer to cut the Southern Nazarene lead to 30-25 at the break.

Southeastern collected the first points of the third quarter as they continued to trail 30-27. The two squads traded points from there, both utilizing the paint. Two made free throws from Reither lengthened the Crimson Storm's lead 38-32. Reither then found a cutting Carley Gasaway who laid one in, pushing SNU ahead even more 43-32, their largest lead of the contest. 

Two free throw makes from SE cut the lead again before Reither found Gasaway for a three. Southern Nazarene continued to pile on the points to lead the Savage Storm 49-27 going into the fourth quarter. 

A quick jumper from Adams began the fourth quarter for the Crimson Storm. Gasaway added on another three-ball for the Storm to push their lead to 15. SNU then went on an 8-0 run to lead 66-45 with 2:22 left to play. Southeastern struggled to make a comeback possible but would hit a final three, but it was not enough. The Crimson Storm would come out victorious for their eighteenth straight win, taking down the Savage Storm, 68-52.

Giddey led the SNU offense once more with 16 points. Adams followed suit with 14 points and six rebounds off the bench in just her third appearance this season. 

Next Up

The Storm will host Ouachita Baptist inside the Sawyer Center on Thursday, February 1. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. in Bethany.