By Dustin Semore
FHU Information
Director
After celebrating seniors Kalea Fleming-Eckerle, Taryn Kile, Ragean Purvine, and KJ White, the No. 23 Freed-Hardeman University Lady Lions tussled with the Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) College Blue Raiders on the hardwood. Despite a valiant effort, the Lady Lions fell short in a 73-67 final.
Kaylee Odom broke the ice for the Lady Lions (19-9, 5-7 MSC) with a layup at 7:09. Kelsey Bender joined with a jumper in the paint to make the score 8-6 in favor of LWC. The Blue Raiders would then score three 3-pointers amid an 11-0 run to take a 19-6 lead before Brooklyn Crouch’s free throw ended the first quarter with FHU trailing 19-7.
The middle frames were kinder to the Lady Lions with FHU outscoring Lindsey Wilson (18-10, 6-6 MSC) 18-14 in the second quarter. Rachel Satterly had the hot hand in the quarter, hitting FHU’s first triple at 5:59 before adding more five points late. Purvine ended the quarter on a high note for the Lady Lions with a 3-pointer ending the half with FHU trailing 33-25.
FHU tacked on four 3-pointers from White, Satterly, Purvine and Crouch in the third quarter to help outscore the Blue Raiders 23-19. FHU drew within one point when Satterly hit two free throws with 25 ticks remaining in the quarter before an LWC 3-pointer with nine seconds left set up a fourth quarter with FHU trailing 52-48.
Lindsey Wilson’s final field goal came at 4:37; however, the Blue Raiders knocked down 10 points from the charity stripe while the Lady Lions hoped to overtake the opposition, but drew no closer until the buzzer finished the regular season with a 73-67 loss.
FHU was 23-60 from the floor to shoot 38% while LWC’s 24-51 saw them shoot 47%.
Rachel Satterly led FHU’s offense with 21 points while Kaylee Odom followed with 14. Raegan Purvine finished with 12 points. Kelsey Bender led at the glass with seeven rebounds while KJ White doled out a team-high three assists.
Up Next – The Lady Lions drew the No. 5 seed in the upcoming Mid-South Conference Tournament to face the same Blue Raiders – who drew the No. 4 seed – in the quarterfinals in Bowling Green, Kentucky at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, March 1.
