By Dustin Semore
FHU Information Director
For the first time since 2017, the No. 20 Freed-Hardeman University Lady Lions exited Crisp Arena with a victory over the Bethel (Tenn.) University Lady Wildcats. FHU out-rebounded Bethel 34-19 to help them to a 62-48 victory.
KJ White drove into the lane to tally the first points for the Lady Lions (19-4, 5-2 MSC) before Rachel Satterly knocked down a 3-pointer to give FHU an early 5-0 advantage. After the Lady Wildcats got on the board with a layup, Kalea Fleming-Eckerle’s layup opened a seven-point run for FHU ending with another Satterly triple to give FHU a 12-2 lead. Bethel would add some points near the end of the quarter, but FHU held on to a 15-7 lead after the first quarter.
Despite the fast start by the Lady Lions, Bethel (13-10, 0-7 MSC) would hit timely 3-pointers to continually cut into the Lady Lions lead. A 3-pointer at 3:53 would nearly completely erase an 11-point deficit to draw within two points with FHU clinging to a 23-21 lead. FHU would flip the script by going on a 11-2 run to close the first half with Brooklyn Croch’s 3-pointer ending the half with FHU leading 34-23.
The third quarter proved to be the lowest-scoring frame with Bethel and FHU combining for 17 points. The Lady Lions began with a layup from Raegan Purvine before Satterly and Kaylee Odom hit two free throws each to account for all six FHU points, but still clung to a 40-34 lead after three full quarters.
Freed-Hardeman would more than triple their third quarter total by tallying 22 points in the final quarter. 11 of those were from the free-throw line, while Satterly went 9-11 from the charity stripe down the stretch. FHU’s solid afternoon from the line was enough to seal the vicory 62-48.
The Lady Lions were 18-26 from the free-throw line while tallying 10 3-pointers.
Rachel Satterly led FHU’s offense with 23 points by going 4-10 from long range and 11-13 from the free-throw line. Kalea Fleming-Eckerle was a perfect 4-4 from the floor to score 10 while Raegan Purvine tallied 10 points. Satterly also led FHU at the glass with five rebounds with seven of nine playing Lady Lions recording a share of 10 assists.
