Matt Barker, Sports Information Director

HENDERSON, Tenn. - The Freed-Hardeman Lady Lion basketball team will open up conference play tonight as they host Harris Stowe State (Mo.) University in a 5:30 PM match up at the Brewer Sports Center.

The Lady Lions have already had a hot start to the 2015 season as they have defeated No. 4 Bethel (Tenn.) University and No. 12 Cumberland (Tenn.) University in their tough out of conference schedule. The team will look to use that momentum Thursday as they face Harris Stowe in their first conference game of the season.

SETTING THE STAGE

FHU (3-1) is coming into Thursday's contest off a 72-66 win at home over No. 12 Cumberland (Tenn.) University on Tuesday. FHU and Cumberland were fairly even on the offensive end throughout the game as the Lady Lions shot 46 percent from the field compared to the Bulldogs who shot 43 percent. However, FHU was able to pick up buckets when they needed them including an 8-0 run in the fourth quarter to give them just enough cushion to hold off the Bulldogs, who came in looking for an upset.

The match up was tight from the beginning as there were seven ties and 12 lead changes in the contest. The largest lead in the game was 11 as FHU was able to pull away midway through the fourth quarter. Taleeah Cross led the Lady Lions in scoring with 18 points as she went 6 of 11 from the field. Brandee Busenlehner also came up big in the contest with a double-double as she put up 16 points and pulled down 12 rebounds.

Harris Stowe State University (1-2) were defeated in their first two games of the season by Campbellsville University and No. 4 Bethel (Tenn.) University. However, the Hornets were able to pick up a 66-53 victory in their most recent outing at Avila (Mo.). Cierra Stanciel led the Hornets on the offensive end with an impressive 31 points in the victory.

LAST TIME THEY MET

The Lady Lions faced Harris Stowe twice last season and defeated them on both occasions. FHU opened their conference schedule last season at Harris Stowe on November 20 and came away with an impressive 77-46 victory over the Hornets.

FHU dominated on the offensive side of the floor and the glass as they went on a 20-5 run over a six-minute stretch in the first half before taking a comfortable 34-22 lead into halftime. The Lady Lions would put together an 8-0 run early in the second half to push the lead to 18 while forcing 13 turnovers on the Hornets.

Paige Melville led all scorers with 16 points while Hayley Newby (15 points, 12 rebounds) and Grace Alonso de Armino (15 points, 22 rebounds) both posted double-doubles.

In the second match up between the two schools, the Lady Lions put together an even better shooting performance as they hosted the Hornets and came away with a 92-64 victory. All five of FHU's starters scored in double-figures in the match up. After falling behind early, FHU rattled off 12 unanswered points to take a 19-10 lead and later went on an 8-0 run to extend the lead to 18 points. Brandee Busenlehner led the way for the Lady Lions on the offensive end as she scored a career-high 18 points while making 6-of-10 from behind the arc

FHU will look to have a similar result tonight against the Hornets as they open up their AMC conference schedule in the 5:30 PM match up at the Brewer Sports Center.

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