Lady Lions use strong second half to claim homecoming win

November 12, 2022

by Dustin Semore, Sports Information Director

HENDERSON, Tenn. — In front of a packed Brewer Sports Center, the Freed-Hardeman University Lady Lions used a late run to stave off the Blue Mountain Christian (Miss.) University Lady Toppers on homecoming. The Lady Lions continue to shoot the ball well from long range, connecting for eight en route to a 72-54 victory.

Freed-Hardeman (3-0) got started with a 3-point jumper from KJ White before both teams dried up shooting, with neither team scoring across the next four minutes before Kelsey Bender's layup put FHU ahead 10-2. Rachel Satterly bucketed a shot and converted the and-one opportunity to give FHU a 13-9 lead at the end of the first quarter.

The Blue Mountain Christian Lady Toppers (5-1) lit the net of fire in the second quarter jumping from a nine-point first quarter to a 23-point second frame. BMCU bucketed back-to-back 3-pointers to go on an 8-0 streak to head to the break leading the hosting Lady Lions 32-29.

A made jumper by the Lady Toppers sent FHU to their biggest deficit of seven at 7:51 of the third quarter. From there, FHU began sinking free throws before a Satterly jumper gave FHU the lead at 2:12. Satterly's 10-point third frame pushed the Lady Lions to a 51-42 lead heading into the final 10 minutes.

The Lady Lion defense continued to step up in the fourth quarter, allowing the Lady Toppers only four field goals in the closing quarter. FHU's White and Satterly knocked down the final two of FHU's eight long balls to give the girls in maroon the 72-54 win.

Breaking her own career high set in FHU's last game, Satterly led the Lady Lions with 27 points, going 7-for-10 from the floor, including 4-for-6 from deep. The freshman Elli Chumley netted 14 points in the win, while White knocked down 12 points. Raegan Purvine pulled down a team-high seven rebounds, with Satterly swiping away two steals. 

FHU will put their 3-0 record to the test in their first Mid-South Conference matchup, hosting the University of Pikeville (Ky.) on Thursday, November 17 at 5:30 p.m.