HAMMOND, La. – The Southeastern Louisiana University women's basketball team began its 2026-27 home slate with a 71-64 win against Arkansas-Monticello in the University Center Thursday.
Natalie Huff and
Aliyah Collins propelled Southeastern (1-1) to its first victory of the season. In the team's exhibition, the Cotton Blossoms (0-0) scored 41 second-half points to get within single digits in the fourth quarter.
The second-year Lion guards, Huff and Collins, combined for 40 points and 10 steals to lead SLU on both ends of the floor. Huff scored a career-high 21 points in Thursday's win, beating her previous mark by five points. After draining two triples in Monday's season opener, Huff sank another two threes to tie a game-high. The third-year student-athlete also shot 9-for-18 from the floor. Both
Eryn McKinzie and Collins tied for a team-high three assists.
Defensively,
Shaine Parker led all Lions with seven rebounds. Huff's eight steals were also a career-high. The Lions forced 25 turnovers on the defensive end of the floor, with SLU totaling 14 steals, tied for the most swipes since the team visited HCU last season. The Lions only turned over the ball eight times, earning a +17 turnover differential.
Arkansas-Monticello was led by three double-digit scorers in Alyssa Batton (19), Brilynn Findley (16), and Taleigha Ealy (12). Ealy also led the team in the paint, tallying eight rebounds, with four offensive boards. Casey Teague finished second for the visitors with six rebounds. Findley and Keely Blanchard notched two steals apiece.
After the Lions led by two at the end of the first quarter, Huff and Collins combined for 13 points in the second frame, helping the team score 26 second-quarter points, 43-23. In the second half, the visitors found their footing and put together 27 points in the third quarter to trail the Lions by five, 55-50. The Lions remained in front in the fourth quarter, holding the Blossoms to 14 points and the senior Collins posting six points in the final frame, 71-64.
Next week, Southeastern will begin a three-game road trip by traveling to Fort Worth, Texas, to take on No. 15 TCU. The Lions and the Horned Frogs will face off on Thursday, Nov. 12, at 6:30 p.m. in Schollmaier Arena. The game will be televised on ESPN+.
SOCIAL MEDIA
For more information on Southeastern Women's Basketball, follow @LionUpWBB on X and Instagram or like /SoutheasternWBB on Facebook.
TICKETS
For ticket information, please contact the Southeastern Athletics Ticket Office at (985) 549-5466 or visit www.LionSports.net/tickets. Southeastern offers mobile ticketing as the primary source for securing tickets. All tickets will be available via e-mail in a PDF format for fans to download on their phone or print at home. Tickets can also be downloaded to Apple Wallet.
CLEAR BAG POLICY
Southeastern Athletics has instituted a clear bag policy for all ticketed events. For more information on the clear bag policy, visit www.LionSports.net/clear.
