NEW ORLEANS, LA. — The Life University women's basketball team soared past the Knights from the Southern University at New Orleans Tuesday night, running away in the contest 86-46.
The Running Eagles saw plenty of contributors score in the contest, but it was Fapou Semebene and Maikya Simmons leading the charge with 22 and 17 points, respectively.
The lopsided victory began in the first quarter as the Running Eagles defense shut down the Knights in the first, limiting the home team to a mere three points in the opening frame of action. Sprinting out of the gates, the Running Eagles went ahead 11-0 before the Knights earned their first points from the free throw line with 2:18 left on the clock.
After dominating the first quarter to earn an 11-3 lead, the second quarter saw the Running Eagles further distance themselves from the NAIA opponent with another solid offensive and defensive period.
Though going to half with a favorable 30-17 lead, it was predominately a second-half offensive explosion that led to the blowout. In the final twenty minutes, the women's team dominated the Knights 56-33 in the second half alone as SUNO had no answer for what Life U. threw at them both offensively and defensively.
The game's leading scorer, Fapou Semebene, scored nine in the first half of play, but a dominant, eleven-point individual effort in the fourth quarter led the team to a season-best 31 point quarter.
The Running Eagles' defense overwhelmed the Knights forcing 30 turnovers in the contest, resulting in 27 Life U. points. Additionally, the Running Eagles controlled the contest for all 40 minutes, never trailing or letting the home team tie the contest as the slimmest lead of the ballgame was 13-5 in the second quarter.
Santavia Grant and Tanit Calsapeu came off the bench to put in solid production for Life University as 14 different players recorded minutes in the win.
Up next, the Running Eagles will look to continue the non-conference success with the team's second match against the College of Coastal Georgia this season. In the teams' prior meeting this year Life U. cruised to a convincing 80-56 win. Tipoff against the Mariners on Saturday is slated for 2 PM in the Eagles' Nest.
