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Freed-Hardeman University

Freed-Hardeman University Athletics

Women's Basketball

Lady Lions look for wins record, quarterfinal appearance

Box Score

FRANKFORT, Ky. - The Freed-Hardeman Lady Lions will attempt to set a school record for the most wins in a season and advance to the quarterfinals of the NAIA Division I Women's Basketball National Tournament as they take on Campbellsville (Ky.) University in the Sweet 16 tonight at 5:15.

The Lady Lions (32-1) dominated their first-round game against West Virginia Tech, 82-48. FHU went on a 16-0 run in the first half to take control and never allowed the Golden Bears an opportunity to get back into the game.

Campbellsville (25-9), a four seed in the quarter and ranked No. 14 in the NAIA, advanced with a 71-55 decision over Wiley (Texas) College in the opening round. The Lady Tigers were led by Courtney Clifton's 19 points in that win while Mackenzie Lee added 16.

It will be the third time that FHU and CU have met in the national tournament. Campbellsville defeated the Lady Lions, 72-64, in 2000 in the Sweet 16 while FHU picked up a 79-74 win in the quarterfinals in 2011.

The key to today's game may come on the perimeter where both teams are among the nation's best in 3-point shooting. Freed-Hardeman leads the NAIA at 38.5 percent from behind the arc while Campbellsville ranks fifth at 34.5 percent. Both also rank in the top 10 in scoring, as FHU is fifth at 80.0 points per game and CU is ninth at 74.3 points per game.

The Lady Tigers have been well-tested coming into the tournament having faced 17 of the 32 teams in the tournament field going 9-8 in those games. Most of those were played within the Mid-South Conference, which put six teams in the tournament.

Freed-Hardeman brings an 18-game winning streak and the nation's No. 1 ranking into the game and will be looking for its seventh trip to the national quarterfinals. All-American Natalie Shumpert leads the way averaging 16.3 points per game and went over 2000 career points in FHU's first-round win. She enters today's game with 2002 career points and needs four to pass Kara Sanders for fourth on the all-time scoring list.

FHU will need another quality outing from Grace Alonso de Armino, who scored 15 points on 6-of-10 shooting in the opener. Cynthia Woodward and Hayley Newby also gave some good minutes off the bench, as Woodward knocked down 4-of-5 from 3-point range for 12 points while Newby added 10 points and nine rebounds.

A win would set a new program record for the most in a season. The Lady Lions tied that record on Wednesday with their 32nd win, equaling the mark set by the 2005-06 squad that went 32-3.

The winner of this game will face the winner of the game between Vanguard (Calif.) and William Woods (Mo.) on Saturday at 6:00 PM.

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Players Mentioned

Cynthia Woodward

#22 Cynthia Woodward

G
5' 7"
Junior
Grace Alonso de Armino

#23 Grace Alonso de Armino

G/F
6' 1"
Sophomore
Hayley Newby

#42 Hayley Newby

F
6' 0"
Sophomore
Natalie Shumpert

#35 Natalie Shumpert

G
5' 4"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Cynthia Woodward

#22 Cynthia Woodward

5' 7"
Junior
G
Grace Alonso de Armino

#23 Grace Alonso de Armino

6' 1"
Sophomore
G/F
Hayley Newby

#42 Hayley Newby

6' 0"
Sophomore
F
Natalie Shumpert

#35 Natalie Shumpert

5' 4"
Senior
G
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