MCKENZIE, Tenn. — Traveling up the road to longtime foe Bethel University the No. 8 Freed-Hardeman University Lady Lions defeated the No. 13 Lady Wildcats 59-53.

Freed-Hardeman (21-3, 5-3 MSC) fell behind after aa set of free throws before a set of forwards showed off their range with both Kelsey Bender and Lilly Kee hitting triples. The Wildcats; however, hit shots to hold a 14-11 lead after the first quarter.

Kaylee Odom opened the second quarter with a layup and a free throw, but it was FHU's defense that showed off in the frame. Bethel (19-5, 4-5 MSC) was held to just 2-17 shooting from the floor in the quarter. Bender tacked on another 3-pointer before Brooklyn Crouch scored four late points to help FHU to a four-point lead. After a pair of free throws Bethel's final shot of the half was good to go to intermission with a 23-23 stalemate.

Crouch got the second half underway with a 3-pointer to give the Lady Lions the lead they would never give up. Carissa Curtis aided the cause with five straight points before Odom hit five free throws to push FHU's lead to 37-28. Bethel's Madison Hart lifted the Lady Cats' spirits with six unanswered points in the span of two minutes to pull the game back to one possession with a 37-34 score in favor of the Lady Lions. Another Odom free throw was followed by Rachel Satterly's layup to end the quarter with FHU leading 40-34.

The final 10 minutes featured the most scoring from both teams with the squads connecting for 19 points each. Crouch spent plenty of time at the charity stripe, going 6-8 to keep the Wildcats at bay until the 59-53 final.

The Wildcats had plenty of opportunities from the floor by attempting 60 shots but the Lady Lion defense shut that down to allow just 15 makes to leave Bethel with 25% shooting. Meanwhile, FHU was 19-49 from the floor to have a 38.8% mark. 

Kelsey Bender's double-double pushed the Lady Lions to victory with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Brooklyn Crouch led the scoring for FHU with 15 points while Kaylee Odom had 12 points.
 

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