HAMMOND, La. – HBU battled back from a 17-point first half deficit to tie the game at 43-all with 11 minutes to go in regulation, but Southeastern Louisiana scored seven-straight points and closed the game outscoring the Huskies, 24-16, en route to a 67-59 Lady Lion victory Saturday afternoon from the University Center.
Rachel Arthur scored a game-high 18 points to lead HBU (6-9 overall, 0-4 SLC), as she shot 9-of-20 from the floor, with four rebounds, one block, and one steal.
Shanice Steenholdt registered her ninth double-double of the season with 16 points and 12 rebounds.
Anna Strickland had a team-high 13 rebounds, along with four assists.
Tayler Jefferson finished with 11 points and a game-high three steals.
Elizabeth Styles led SELA (6-8 overall, 2-1 SLC) with 16 points, as she shot 3-for-7 from the floor and 10-of-11 from the charity stripe. Nanna Pool had a double-double of 12 points and 11 boards, while Jameika Hoskins pulled down a game-high 14 rebounds.
SELA started out on fire, outscoring HBU 16-2 in the first 5:15 of the game, shooting 7-for-10 from the floor in the process.
HBU was down 24-7 midway through the opening half until Arthur's jumper propelled an 8-0 HBU run to cut the deficit to nine, 24-15, with 6:22 to go. A layup by Hoskins stopped the run, but the Huskies closed the first half outscoring the Lady Lions, 8-6, to trail 32-23 at the half.
Steenholdt led all players with 10 first-half points, while Strickland was tied for the half-high lead of seven rebounds. Pool led the Lady Lions with eight points, while Hoskins had seven boards.
The start of the second half was owned by HBU, as the Huskies outscored SELA, 14-4, in the first five-and-a-half minutes of the half. A layup by Jefferson gave the Huskies their first lead of the game, 37-36, with 14:33 to go in regulation.
SLEA would come back to take a four-point lead before the Huskies battled back to tie the game at 43 following an Arthur jumper with 9:16 remaining.
The Lady Lions would score seven-straight points to take a 50-43 lead with just over eight minutes remaining. HBU came as close as two, 52-50, but SELA would score six unanswered to take an eight-point advantage, 58-50, with under five minutes to play in the game.
Once again, HBU battled hard and cut the deficit to one, 60-59, following a three-pointer by
Erin McGarrachan and HBU looked to take a lead after McGarrachan forced a turnover on SELA's next possession. But SELA's Annessa De La Cruz forced a Huskies' turnover and the Lady Lions closed the game on a 7-0 run, making 7-of-8 at the free throw line.
Arthur scored 12 points in the second half to lead all players, followed by Jefferson with 11. Steenholdt pulled down 11 second-half rebounds to lead all players. Styles and Erica Hernandez each scored eight points to lead SELA.
HBU returns home for the next four games, beginning Thursday, Jan. 15 against Central Arkansas at 7 pm. The Huskies will also host New Orleans Saturday, Jan. 17 at 4 pm, Lamar Saturday, Jan. 24 at 4 pm, and Abilene Christian Thursday, Jan. 29 at 7 pm.
