LAKELAND, Fla. (January 19, 2019) – Sophomore guard Paris Copeland had a solid performance in her hometown of Lakeland, Florida, finishing with 21 points and six rebounds on Saturday evening, but it would not be enough as the Webber International University women's basketball team fell to No. 5 Southeastern University 87-58.

In addition to Copeland, who did her damage on 50 percent shooting (8-16), Dariah Bolden also played inspired basketball, finishing with a season-high 11 points on three 3-pointers. Taniya Patrick was the third and final Warrior in double figures in scoring with 10 points and six rebounds herself.

Additionally, the Warriors shared the ball well, finishing with 19 assists on 22 made field goals, including eight helpers from Breyonna Reed and five from Briana Williams.

Webber would trail by 17 (40-23) at the half in this one after shooting only 23.5 percent in the first quarter and committing 15 combined turnovers (6 first half; 9 second half) in the opening 20 minutes.

After Webber's Montrese Weller sank a 3-pointer for the first basket of the game, Webber would not lead again as Southeastern answered with an ensuing 7-0 run that was stopped by a layup from Copeland on the nice assist from Reed.

Then, after Webber got to within two at 9-7 before a 6-0 Southeastern run made it 15-7, a layup from Patrick from Emmarrie Carmen late in the opening quarter made it 15-9, but a layup at the buzzer by Southeastern made it 17-9 Fire after one quarter.

In all, the Fire closed the quarter on an 8-2 run over the final four and a half minutes of the frame.

In the second quarter, Bolden hit a three to make it 20-12 three minutes in, but Southeastern answered right back with a three of its own on its next possession before doubling up the Warriors at 28-14.

Back-to-back scores by Copeland then made it 28-18 halfway through the second quarter before the Fire again answered with another 7-0 run. Webber trimmed the deficit to 12 after a three by Dysheka Price and a fast break jumper by Patrick toward the end of the first half, but the Warriors entered the break down by 17 at 40-23 after a 12-5 Southeastern run, again over the final four and a half minutes of the period.

In the third quarter, Weller again started the half with a three, making it 40-26, and then a three by Williams and two free throws by Copeland put the Warriors down by 12 at 45-33 with 7:19 left in the period. Webber then trailed by 14 at 59-44 with only two minutes left in the quarter after a three by Bolden and a bank shot by Price before the Fire closed the quarter on a 9-1 run to lead by 23 at 68-45, their largest lead to that point.

Webber is now to 7-12 overall and 2-9 in The Sun Conference on the season while Southeastern improved to 18-2 and 11-0, remaining the last team unbeaten in Sun Conference play.

The Fire, who entered the contest on Saturday coming off an extremely impressive 49-point victory over Warner University two days ago, have only lost twice this season against teams ranked No. 3 and No. 6 in NAIA Division-II while taking down teams ranked No. 4, No. 15, No. 19 and No. 21 in the country so far. Additionally, Southeastern has now won 53 consecutive games versus Sun Conference opponents, and has won seven straight versus Webber, having not lost to the Warriors since December 2, 2015.

The Warriors will be back in action in one week, traveling to nearby Lake Wales, Florida, to take on their Crooked Lake rival Warner University for the second time this season. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. on Saturday, January 26. In the first meeting between Webber and Warner this season on December 1, 2018, the Warriors were victorious by 10, 67-57, giving Webber what was its first conference win of the season.