UNIVERSITY PARK, Ill. — After a two-week break, the (RV) Freed-Hardeman University Lady Lions faced their highest-ranked opponent of the season, taking on the No. 8 University of Rio Grande (Ohio) RedStorm. FHU's defense stumped Rio Grande while dropping 10 3-pointers to claim victory 76-53.
Despite the fortnight's break, the Lady Lions (14-0) wasted no time jumping ahead, with a 3-pointer from
Carissa Curtis opening the game on a 14-0 run. Four of the five starters recorded points in the six-minute run before the RedStorm scored their first point on a free throw. Back-to-back triples from
Jenna Satterly and
Rachel Satterly put fhu up 20-9 to help them cruise to a 21-11 lead after the opening quarter.
The RedStorm (10-2) nearly doubled their offensive output in the second quarter by narrowing FHU's lead a single digits, but the Lady Lion offense continued to click with
Brooklyn Crouch's 3-pointer being followed by points in the paint from R. Satterly and
Kaylee Odom.
Lilly Kee wrapped up FHU's scoring with a layup at 1:52. Rio Grande had momentum going into the break by scoring six unanswered points and ending the first half with Freed-Hardeman leading 43-27.
Momentum stayed with the RedStorm to begin the second half by scoring the first five points of the half, but Curtis continued to shoot the ball extremely well from beyond the arc with two treys. Both squads recorded 18 points in the third frame with the Lady Lions leading 61-45.
The fourth quarter has been kind to the maroon and white all season and the first game of the Governors State Winter Classic proved no different. FHU out-scored the opposition 15-8 with Odom continuing to own the key with six points in the paint to put a bow on the 76-53 win.
Coming into the game in the top-10 in points per game with an average of 89.3 , the Lady Lions held the RedStorm to their lowest point total of the season by far with their next-lowest being 73.
FHU drained 10 3-pointers while Rio Grande tallied two. The Lady Lions won the rebounding battle with 35 to the RedStorm's 33. Continuing to move the ball well, FHU dished out 19 assists.
Kaylee Odom led FHU with her second 20-point performance in three games.
Carissa Curtis was not far behind, dropping five 3-pointers to lift her to 17 points.
Rachel Satterly knocked down three triples to finish with 11 points. It was a team effort at the glass with nine of the 10 participating Lady Lions grabbing a rebound. Odom and R. Satterly were joined by
Kelsey Bender with a team-high six boards.
Brooklyn Crouch joined Odom and R. Satterly with four assists.
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Up Next
The Lady Lions have one more game left in the 2024 calendar year, facing the (RV) Governors State (Ill.) University Jaguars on December 29 at 4:00 p.m. They will then flip the calendar to play at Missouri Baptist on January 3 before finally returning to Henderson to open Mid-South Conference play against No. 16 Bethel on January 11.
