Box Score JACKSON, Tenn. - When a team shoots below 30 percent from the field, it generally does not win the game.
Try telling that to the Freed-Hardeman Lady Lions.
Despite shooting 29.5 percent from the field, FHU defeated The Master's (Calif.) College, 65-57, on Thursday at the Jackson Rotary Classic.
The Lady Lions did it by getting to the free throw line with offensive rebounding and dribble penetration, knocking down 27-of-32 from the charity stripe including 8-of-9 in the game's final five minutes.
It helped No. 6 FHU (4-0) dodge a bullet and fend off a second-half comeback by the Mustangs (2-2), who recovered from a cold first half of their own to shoot nearly 50 percent in the second frame.
However, TMC could only get within four points after trailing 33-20 at halftime.
An 8-0 run early in the second half pulled the Mustangs within five points at 35-30. FHU was able to slowly push the lead back into double-digits (49-38) with 8:39 to play, and the lead fluctuated between six and nine points for most of the game afterwards until back-to-back 3-pointers by Zoe Scott pulled TMC within four points with 49 seconds left.
But freshman
Hayley Newby was fouled on the other end and knocked down both free throws to make it a two-possession game at best with 27 seconds.
Natalie Shumpert then came away with a steal and was sent to the line, where she connected on both attempts to seal the victory.
Tonight marked only the fourth time in nine years that the Lady Lions opened the Rotary Classic with a win. It is also the fourth time that FHU faced off against The Master's on the first day of the event. FHU is 2-2 in those games.
FHU again dominated the boards, out-rebounding The Master's 49-33 and had 23 offensive rebounds.
Amber Alexander and
Maria Bagwell both had nine to lead the Lady Lions, combining for 10 on the offensive end.
Three newcomers led the way in scoring with
Ashley Tate posting a season-high 17 points. Alexander followed with 14, 12 of which came in the first half, and Newby scored all 11 of her points after halftime.
The road in the Rotary gets no easier for FHU, which faces No. 13 Saint Xavier (Ill.) University tomorrow at 8:00 PM. SXU knocked off Bethel (Tenn.) University tonight, 77-60.
