LAMBDIN'S 36 PROPELS IU SOUTHEAST TO A 74-69 VICTORY OVER HUNTINGTON

HUNTINGTON, Ind. – Lauren Lambdin had a team-high 36 points to lead IU Southeast to a 74-69 victory over Huntington University on Friday.

Lambdin's 32 points were a season high for the Grenadiers, narrowly edging out Emmy Ralph's 31 in the season opener. Karly Sweeney was the only other Grenadier in double digits in the game, scoring 13 points while also swiping six steals.

IU Southeast (3-2) trailed 15-9 early, but Lambdin scored the final six points of the quarter to give the Grenadiers a 17-15 lead after one.

The second quarter was tightly contested throughout. Lambdin was aggressive in the quarter, attempting nine free throws en route to scoring 12 of IU Southeast's 17 second quarter points. The Grenadiers led at the half 34-30.

The Grenadiers stayed steady in the third quarter, outscoring Huntington 24-19 to take a 58-49 lead after three quarters. Leading by four with 1:26 to go in the third, a three pointer by Brynna Blackburn and two free throws from Lambdin gave the Grenadiers a nine-point advantage. Five different Grenadiers hit a three in the third, going a combined 5-8 from deep in the quarter.

Huntington (2-4) mounted a comeback early in the fourth, scoring eight straight points to bring an 11-point IU Southeast lead down to just three. Sweeney came up huge for the Grenadiers down the stretch, twice extending the IU Southeast lead from three to five in the last minute. IU Southeast would go on to win 74-69.

IU Southeast shot 40.4 percent from the field and 44 percent from three-point range, hitting 11 of their 25 attempts. The Grenadiers attempted 28 free throws in the game, hitting 19 of them.

IU Southeast plays Saint Francis on Saturday at 1:00 PM ET in the continuation of the Huntington Tournament.