HENDERSON — After beginning the season on the road, the No. 20 Freed-Hardeman University Lady Lions claimed a home-opening victory Friday night, topping the Taylor (Ind.) University Trojans 72-56.

Freed-Hardeman (3-1) opened the game strong, with Carissa Curtis knocking down a 3-pointer on the Lady Lions' first shot of the game, followed by a layup from Kaylee Odom. The first quarter heralded what would be a double-double performance by fifth-year senior KJ White, who grabbed four rebounds and dished out four assists in the first 10 minutes. Odom was 4-5 in the paint to lead all scorers with eight points to see the Lady Lions hold an 18-10 lead at the end of the first quarter.

The Taylor (3-1) defense stepped up in the second quarter, making the Lady Lions go cold from the floor, with FHU going 1-7 to start the second frame. Meanwhile, the Trojans would tally seven unanswered points to turn a 10-point deficit into a three-point one after a triple at 6:42. Elli Chumley would get the Lady Lions back on the board with a jumper at 4:16 before Odom showed off her range with a 3-pointer to put the Lady Lions back on top by four. A layup from White in the waning seconds set the scores at 32-27 in favor of FHU at intermission.

White and Odom would enter the third quarter dominating the paint, sharing 10 points from the key, with Odom's layup at 6:38 giving the Lady Lions their largest lead at the time to 11. Staying in the game, the Trojans would tally back-to-back 3-pointers to make it a two-possession game. Alaina Stiles' layup at 1:45 was followed by a White free throw to move into the final quarter with FHU leading 48-41.

The Lady Lion offense saved the best for last, exploding to a game-high 24 points in the fourth quarter. A 3-pointer from Curtis put the FHU lead at double-digits, and continued to grow until the buzzer sounded with the Lady Lions claiming victory 72-56.

FHU dominated the paint, out-scoring the Trojans 46-18 in the lane. 

KJ White recorded a double-double with 17 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. Kaylee Odom went 10-12 from the field to tally 25 points, while Carissa Curtis chipped in with 10 points.
 

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Up Next

The Lady Lions return to action tomorrow, November 4, taking on the Brescia (Ky.) University Bearcats. The final game of the November FHU Classic, FHU and BU will the floor at 4:00 p.m., following the matinee game featuring Cumberland (Tenn.) University and Taylor at 2:00 p.m.