HENDERSON — Competing in their first matchup of the 2024 half of the calendar, the No. 24 Freed-Hardeman University Lady Lions began the defense of their Mid-South Conference champion crown with a 63-57 win over the Cumberland (Tenn.) University Phoenix.

It was a rocky start for both squads with the Lady Lions (15-2, 1-0 MSC) finding themselves trailing 4-3 at the 6:04 mark of the quarter after a flurry of turnovers from both sides. Carissa Curtis and Kaylee Odom collected layups before Raegan Purvine's 3-pointer with 36 seconds remaining gave the Lady Lions their first lead at 14-11. After an answering 3-pointer from Cumberland, Brooklyn Crouch sank two free throws to end the first quarter with a 16-14 lead for FHU.

The CU Phoenix (7-7, 0-1 MSC) began the second quarter on a 6-0 run to flip the scoreboard and take a four point lead after a triple. Curtis tallied back-to-back long balls to keep the Lady Lions within striking distance, but a Phoenix tray with 26 ticks remaining in the half sent the Lady Lions to the locker room behind 31-28.

The penultimate quarter saw the Lady Lions and the Phoenix swap leads six times while drawing even once. A late flurry by FHU saw Odom sandwiching layups around a Crouch jumper to move into the final 10 minutes with the Lady Lions clinging to a 42-39 lead.

Though relatively quiet in the first three periods, Rachel Satterly made herself heard in the fourth quarter, leading things off with a pair of 3-pointers to score eight points all by herself. Satterly's spark opened the frame to give FHU their largest lead of 10 points at 49-39 with 7:36 remaining. Undeterred, Cumberland followed by collecting six unanswered points to narrow the gap to two possessions. Satterly continued to pour it on in the fourth quarter, sinking two more 3-pointers to keep the Phoenix at bay until the final buzzer on a 63-57 victory.

FHU continued to be strong defensively, forcing the Phoenix to shoot 38% from the floor. While the turnover margin was 15-14 in favor of FHU, the Lady Lions capitalized by scoring 15 points off of those turnovers to Cumberland's eight points. 

Rachel Satterly led all scorers with 15 points, tallying 13 of those in the fourth quarter alone. Kaylee Odom chipped in with 12 points, while Elli Chumley added 11. Chumley led the Lady Lions at the glass by grabbing seven rebounds. Odom led FHU with four assists.
 

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Up Next

The Lady Lions will take a short rest before beginning the next iteration of an old rivalry against the (RV) Lady Wildcats of Bethel (Tenn.) University. Since joining the NAIA, FHU leads the series 27-10 with Bethel winning the last matchup 69-59 in McKenzie on February 4, 2023.

Tipoff is set for 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 13.