Box Score Courtesy of American Midwest Conference
ST. LOUIS, Mo. - As the 2016 calendar year draws to a close, and the second semester of American Midwest Conference (AMC) hoops gets underway, the AMC Game of the Week heats up with a longstanding rivalry that features two top-10 women's basketball programs.
The unbeaten and NAIA #1 Freed-Hardeman University Lady Lions (11-0/5-0 AMC) will hit the road on Thursday, December 29, and head to Batesville, Ark. to take on the #8 Lyon College Scots (9-1/5-0 AMC).
WHO
Freed-Hardeman Lady Lions: The Lady Lions are in their 23rd season under the guidance of head coach Dale Neal, and in that time, FHU has risen to a spot among the national powers in NAIA Division I women's basketball. This season is no exception, as the Lady Lions are unbeaten in part due to the outstanding play of senior Taleeah Cross. Cross is on pace to eclipse both the 2,000 point and 500 assist plateaus this season. She is averaging 18.7 points and 2.1 assists per contest.
Lyon Scots: The Scots dropped their season opener to College of the Ozarks in double overtime, but since then, they have won nine in a row, including two over ranked opponents. In eight of those nine games, the Scots have held their opponents under 60 points. Lyon does not have a player currently on the roster averaging in double figures, however, the Scots have averaged 72 points per game, and they have been held below 70 points just three times, notably all three in road victories.
WHAT
The rivalry between Freed-Hardeman and Lyon goes back to their days as conference foes in the now defunct TranSouth Athletic Conference, which both teams joined as charter members in 1996. Since the 1999-2000 season, the teams have met 32 times, with Freed-Hardeman holding a 22-10 edge.
WHEN
Thursday, December 29, 2016; 5:30 p.m.
Live Stats – DakStats (http://www.dakstats.com/websync/Pages/Webcasts.aspx?association=10)
Live Video (PPV) – Lyon College Sports Network (https://portal.stretchinternet.com/lyon/)
WHERE
Batesville, Ark. (James C. Becknell Gymnasium)
WHY
In addition to these two teams both occupying spots in the NAIA top-10, they are in a dead heat at 5-0 atop the AMC – the last two remaining unbeaten teams in AMC play. The Scots need to protect their home court if they aspire to repeat as AMC champions, while the Lady Lions can secure the inside track to the regular season title with a key road win early in the conference schedule.
