Lady Lions cruise past Wildcats

November 22, 2022

by Dustin Semore, Sports Information Director

HENDERSON, Tenn. — Off to their best start in the Joshua Epperson era, the Freed-Hardeman University Lady Lions continued their perfect start by topping the (RV) Bethel (Tenn.) University Lady Wildcats 72-53.

Freed-Hardeman's (6-0, 3-0 MSC) defense shut down the Bethel attack, forcing four straight turnovers to start the game before the Wildcats even attempted a shot. K.J. White's steal and score 30 seconds into the game got the Lady Lions off and running. Kelsey Bender converted an old-fashioned three-point play to put the girls in maroon up 10-2 before reigning Mid-South Conference Player of the Week Rachel Satterly defended her crown with back-to-back 3-pointers. Bethel's lone long ball of the quarter set the opening quarter score at 19-9 in favor of the hosts.

The Lady Wildcats (5-2, 1-2 MSC) found their stroke from beyond the arc, with all five field goals in the second frame coming from deep. Satterly and Bethel's Kalynn Howard traded 3-pointers before Madisyn Baugher joined the party with a triple of her own with 2:12 remaining before the break. Satterly sunk both free throws at the end of the half to put her first act total at 17 points, giving the Lady Lions a 34-26 lead at halftime. 

Bethel hoped their second-half start would spark a comeback after a steal led to a bucket and a foul to pull within two possessions of the Lady Lions. That hope dwindled as FHU would go on a 12-0 run with Rees Berkey leading the charge with six of those points to take a 17-point lead with 4:05 left in the third quarter. A 3-pointer from the Wildcats narrowed the FHU lead to 13 going into the final frame.

FHU would then light the net on fire to run away from their perennial rivals, knocking down six 3-pointers in the final quarter. Raegan Purvine joined Baugher, Bender, Berkey, and Satterly with triples to help the Lady Lions claim victory 72-53.

Going 7-for-14 from beyond the arc helped Rachel Satterly to her freshman season's new high of 29 points. Madisyn Baugher chipped in with 13 points, while Kelsey Bender tallied 10. FHU dominated the boards, out-rebounding the opposition 40-25, with all eight Lady Lions to hit the floor recording multiple rebounds. Bender and Raegan Purvine pulled down seven boards each, with K.J. White leading the team with six assists.

Up Next

Freed-Hardeman will leave the confines of the Brewer Sports Center for the first time in the 2022-23 campaign, traveling to Kingsport, Tennessee, where they will participate in "The Show." A pair of non-conference clashes against Trinity International (Ill.) University and Washington Adventist (Md.) University first against TIU on Friday, November 25 at 3:15 p.m. before an 8:30 p.m. tipoff against WAU is set for Saturday, November 6.