Lady Lions claim first MSC Conference Championship
FHU 65 – Shawnee State 61
By Dustin Semore
FHU Sports Information Director
The (RV) Freed-Hardeman University Lady Lions saved their best for last when their 20-point fourth quarter was their best frame of the Mid-South Conference Tourn-ament Final. Staving off the Shawnee State (Ohio) University Bear attack late, the Lady Lions claimed the 65-61 victory to hoist the MSC Tournament Champion banner while guaranteeing a berth into the 2023 NAIA Women’s Basketball National Tournament Presented by Ballogy.
The No. 5 seed Lady Lions (23-9, 13-9 MSC) drove into the lane to establish dominance in the paint when Elli Chumley’s layup gave FHU their first points of the championship game. The inside dominance proved unnecessary in the opening frame, as every other field goal of the quarter came from four different Lady Lions. First, Rachel Satterly’s triple was chased by Kalea Fleming’s 3-point jumper. Kelsey Bender hit the third consecutive 3-pointer of the quarter to give the Lady Lions a 13-10 lead. For every 3-pointer FHU connected on, the No. 7 seed Bears would make two baskets inside to answer. Madisyn Baugher’s 3-point field goal with three ticks remaining in the quarter gave the Lady Lions a 16-14 lead after 10 minutes.
A tough Shawnee State (16-16, 10-12) defense forced several FHU turnovers in the second quarter, driving to the other end of the hardwood to bucket layups to chip away at, and eventually using a long ball of their own to give the Bears a six-point edge after a set of 3-pointers to lead 29-23 with 1:45 remaining before the intermission. KJ White drove into the lane, sacrificing her body to collect back-to-back layups before Raegan Purvine’s 3-ball put the score at 31-30 in favor of the bears at the break.
The point presence established at the outset of the championship game began to return in the third frame when Chumley opened the third quarter with back-to-back layups. In the third quarter, all but three of FHU’s third-quarter points came from inside the lane, with Rachel Satterly’s 3-pointer helping the Lady Lions end the third quarter deadlocked with the Bears.
It was a massive fourth quarter that vaulted FHU to the championship crown, starting the final 10 minutes on a 9-nine-point unanswered run. Shawnee State would attempt to stop the clock with fouls; however, the Lady Lions calmly connected on those free throws, with Satterly’s dagger from long range coming at 2:11 giving FHU their largest lead at 61-50. Shawnee State battled back, but late free throws pushed FHU to the championship banner with the 65-61 victory.
The Lady Lions shot 44% from the field in the final, hitting 9-12, while holding their opponents to a 4-12 mark.
Rachel Satterly again paced the FHU offense, bucketing 18 points thanks in part to a 4-8 night from deep. KJ White trailed behind with 16 points, with Raegan Purvine tallying 13 buckets. White joined Raegan Purvine for a team-high six rebounds.
Up Next: The Lady Lions will celebrate for most of the week, before the NAIA Women’s Basketball National Championship selection show on Thursday, March 3 will tell the MSC champs their starting place for their battle for the Big Red Banner. Stay tuned to GoFHULions.com for information on opponents, times, and venues.
Elite was earned as Lions overcome 20-point deficit to win MSC title
69 No. 21 Freed-Hardeman vs No. 8 Georgetown 68
For the third time this season, the No. 21 Freed-Hardeman University Lions lined up across the court from the No. 8 Georgetown (Ky.) College Tigers. After splitting the regular season series, the largest time the big cats faced off was in Monday’s Mid-South Conference Championship Final. Despite trailing by 16 points at the break, FHU clawed their way to their first MSC Champion banner with a 69-68 win.
The No. 2 seed Lions (23-8, 16-6 MSC) were stunned from the tipoff when JaQuan Lax’s 3-pointer to open the game would be the only points scored by the Lions until 13:30. Meanwhile, the Georgetown Tigers had no trouble finding the hoop, collecting 19 unanswered points. Known for their astronomical field goal percentage, the Lions found themselves in trouble, going just 8-21 from the floor in the opening half. After JJ Wheat and Ryley McClaran knocked down sets of free throws, Georgetown deflated the Lions with a 3-pointer to put the top-seeded Tigers on top by 20. Peyton Law’s late 3-pointer hoped to breathe life into the Lions as they limped to the locker room trailing 40-24.
Lax’s only points of the first half came from the game-opening triple. Entirely unsatisfied with that stat line, Lax netted five consecutive triples to chip away at the Georgetown (26-5, 18-4 MSC) lead. Brandon Thomas began finding open looks, with his layup at 11:26 being followed by one from McClaran to narrow the Tiger lead to single digits. Slowly the lead dwindled. Geraldo Lane’s 3-point jumper at 5:49 made it a two-possession game. Hunter Scurlock’s long ball put the Lions down by four to spark an 8-0 run with Wheat’s free throws at 2:35, complete the 20-point comeback and then give FHU the lead.
In the final two minutes, one shot from either team could change the outcome, with a pair of GC free throws giving the orange and black the lead. Scurlock drained another 3-pointer before the Lions forced a turnover. Thomas layed in the Lions’ 69th point before a 3-pointer from Georgetown pulled the Tigers within one point.
Disaster struck for the Lions as a missed Tiger layup with one second bounced out of a Lion defender’s hands and out of bounds, allowing Georgetown one second to inbound under their own hoop for the game-winning attempt. As the ball sailed through the air, Lane’s outstretched arm tipped the inbound pass far enough away from its intended target that the horn sounded and the Lions roared.
JaQuan Lax went off, deservedly being named the tournament’s most valuable player, by tallying 20 points in the championship game, including a 6-9 turn from deep. Brandon Thomas closely followed with 14 points, also grabbing a team-high six rebounds.
Up Next
The Lions have one less concern regarding the brackets for the upcoming 2023 NAIA Men’s Basketball First and Second Rounds Presented by Ballogy. With Freed-Hardeman hosting those opening rounds, the Lions will await Thursday’s selection to learn their seeding and their opponents for the Henderson bracket.
