DURANT, Okla. – Turnovers proved costly for Southeastern as the Savage Storm struggled to gain any momentum in a 61-50 loss to rival East Central on Thursday night in Bloomer Sullivan Arena.

The loss drops SE to 11-10 on the season and 9-8 in Great American conference play heading into a Saturday matchup with Northwestern Oklahoma State at 1 p.m. in Alva, Okla.

Southeastern spread the offense around as no player reached double-figures, while Katie Branam put up nine points off the bench in her return to the lineup.

Haiden Williams was next up with seven points off the bench, while Neely Noel, Tracy Johnson, Briley Moon, and Jordan Benson added six each, with Cierra Rangel and Alix Robinson putting up five apiece.

Robinson hauled in a team-high nine rebounds, with Moon pulling down seven.

SE played catch up early in the first quarter, trailing by five points early before a Robinson three and a Branam layup gave the Storm a 13-12 lead with 1:53 to go in the first quarter.

Unfortunately for the Storm, ECU would score the final six points of the frame to take an 18-13 lead.

Southeastern continued to play one to two possessions behind, closing the gap to 22-21 on a Johnson layup with 4:49 to go in the half.

The Tigers would answer that bucket and eventually take a 34-28 lead to the halftime break.

SE cut the deficit to four points on a Branam bucket on the first possession of the third quarter and again on a Rangel layup with 8:39 to go in the third.

ECU would score the next six points and eventually lead by as many as 15 points before a Jordan Benson three and a free throw would close the gap to 55-44 after three quarters.

Neither team could get the offense going in the fourth quarter, scoring six points apiece with SE hitting 18.2 percent while holding the Tigers to 15.4 percent shooting, making the final 61-50 in favor of ECU.