Box Score HENDERSON, Tenn. - After putting together one of the longest winning streaks in program history during non-conference play, the No. 3 Freed-Hardeman Lady Lions will look to keep that streak alive as they open conference play tonight against Blue Mountain (Miss.) College.

FHU rolled off 12 straight wins to enter conference play with a record of 12-2, currently the third-longest winning streak in program history. The longest winning streak in school history is 23 games, accomplished by the 2005-06 squad that went 32-3. This year's team is two wins away from tying the second-longest streak of 14, set by the 2002-03 team.

This year, the Lady Lions have done it with defense and rebounding. While the team has struggled offensively - averaging 69.2 points per game and shooting 37.1 percent from the field - FHU is holding opponents to just 53.1 points per game and hold an impressive plus-11.5 margin on the boards. Only one this season has a team scored 60 or more points against the Lady Lion defense.

Offensive rebounding in particular has been a strength of the team. FHU has pulled down 294 offensive rebounds thus far, an average of 21 per game, and has grabbed the rebound on 51.4 percent of its missed shots.

Juniors Natalie Shumpert (12.1 ppg) and Maria Bagwell (11.8 ppg) lead the team in scoring while Bagwell is fifth in the nation in rebounding, averaging 12.4 per game. Bagwell has stepped up her offensive production in recent weeks, averaging 14.9 points and 13.0 rebounds over her last eight games.

Freed-Hardeman's No. 3 national ranking is the highest for the program since coming in at No. 3 in the 2008-09 preseason poll.

Blue Mountain (3-8) is led by junior Jessi Hayles, who averages 12.7 points per game. The Toppers and the Lady Lions are almost identical in offensive production as BMC averages 69.1 points per contest; however, the Toppers are allowing opponents to score 79 points per game.

FHU comes into the game with a 35-game winning streak over Blue Mountain.