MARIETTA, Ga. — Despite scoring the fewest points in a quarter all season, the (RV) Freed-Hardeman University Lady Lions had another big fourth quarter to keep their unbeaten start alive with a 67-45 victory over Life (Ga.) University in the first game of the Life U Classic.
Both the Lady Lions (12-0) and the Running Eagles were ice cold in the first quarter, combining to go 6-19 from the floor.
Rachel Satterly's jumper put the first points on the board at 8:01 before
Kaylee Odom and
Lilly Kee joined with layups. A late jumper from Life in the final minute made the score 8-6 at the end of the first ten minutes. The eight scored by FHU was the lowest in a single quarter this season.
Expecting the Lady Lions and their NAIA-leading 3-point play, the Life Running Eagles (8-5) played fantastic perimeter defense by not allowing a single 3-pointer to fall in the first half, forcing FHU to go 0-10 in the first half. Thankfully for FHU, Odom was playing lights-out post offense with seven points across one minute. All 12 points scored from the floor came inside the key for FHU with Kee's layup at 1:32 giving the Lady Lions a 22-18 lead at the break.
Adapting well to the defense, the Lady Lions only attempted one 3-pointer in the third quarter, again scoring all of their field goals in the paint. Kee also had a solid quarter at the charity stripe, going 4-6. Meanwhile, the long ball was falling for Life, narrowing the gap to start the fourth quarter down three with a 38-35 Freed-Hardeman lead.
As has been the case all season, the floodgates opened for the Lady Lions at the most opportune time: in the fourth quarter. Satterly got the collective monkey off the back of the team by sinking FHU's first 3-pointer in the first shot of the quarter to spark a 6-0 run. The Running Eagles answered in turn with back-to-back triples to make the score 44-43. The 3-pointer at 5:53 proved to be the last shot from the floor Life had fall with the Lady Lions forging ahead with a 12-0 run capped by a 3-pointer from
Carissa Curtis. Across the last five minutes of the game, Freed-Hardeman out-scored Life 23-2 to escape the first game of the Life U Classic with a 67-45 victory over the hosts.
The Lady Lions were dominant down low, out-rebounding Life 41-30 while scoring 34 points in the paint to the Running Eagles' eight. With their strong ball-handling skills, the Lady Lions dished out 17 assists.
Kaylee Odom had her best night of the season, going 8-11 to help her eclipse 20 points for the first time this year.
Carissa Curtis was right behind her by tallying 17 points.
Lilly Kee chipped in with 10 points. Curtis led the rebounding with eight while
Brooklyn Crouch and
Rachel Satterly both dishing out six helpers with Satterly tying her career-high.
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Up Next
The Lady Lions remain in the Peach State to face the Barons of Brewton-Parker (Ga.) College on Saturday at 12:00 p.m. before taking a holiday break to return to action against (RV) Governor's State (Ill.) University on December 28.
