21-point quarter not enough as Lady Lions fall to Phoenix

December 8, 2022

by Dustin Semore, Sports Information Director

HENDERSON, Tenn. — For the second straight contest, the (RV) Freed-Hardeman University Lady Lions erased a double-digit deficit with a big second half. The comeback was not enough on Thursday night as the Lady Lions fell to the Cumberland (Tenn.) University Phoenix 58-51.

The first quarter began well enough for FHU (9-2, 4-2 MSC) who saw 3-pointers from Rachel Satterly and Madisyn Baugher help push the Lady Lions to an 8-3 lead. Fortunes were quickly and decidedly reversed as FHU ended the frame recording one field goal in 11 attempts. On the other side of the court, the Cumberland Phoenix stormed out with an eight-point unanswered run to help them end the quarter ahead 18-11.

The cold shooting from the Lady Lions continued into the second quarter, as they came up empty on their first six tries from the field until Kelsey Bender's 3-pointer gave FHU their first points of the frame at the 3:13 mark. Cumberland (7-3, 4-2 MSC) kept using big runs to keep the Lady Lions at bay, at one point scoring 11 unanswered buckets to take a 31-13 lead. Rees Berkey's layup in the final minute set the halftime score at 37-22 in favor of the visiting Phoenix.

Coach Joshua Epperson's halftime sermon paid dividends, as his Lady Lions began to claw their way back, allowing one field goal from Cumberland in the middle of a 19-point swing with KJ White's layup at 2:21 stunning the Phoenix to take a 40-39 lead. During that swing, the Lady Lions went both inside and out, with Baugher and Satterly hitting triples, and Rees Berkey joining Bender and White with points in the paint. A pair of buckets from the Phoenix evened out the scores to head into the final quarter all knotted up 43-43.

With 10 minutes left to determine the Mid-South Conference matchup's outcome, FHU and CU matched jumper for jumper with neither team leading by more than one possession. The defenses held their opponents scoreless from Raegan Purvine's game-tying free-throw at 2:09 until Cumberland hit five late free throws after a jumper to see the buzzer sound with the Phoenix on top 58-51.

Turnovers and free throws were the difference maker in the league loss, with FHU coughing up 13 turnovers to CU's five and going 8-for-17 from the charity stripe, while their opposition was 13-for-14.

Madisyn Baugher tied a pair of career highs, knocking down four 3-point field goals and recording three blocks. Her 16-point output led the Lady Lion offense with KJ White's 13 points and Rachel Satterly's 11 buckets following. White also led her Lady Lions with eight rebounds, while Elli Chumley pulled down four offensive boards. 

Up Next

Freed-Hardeman hits the road once more, traveling to Pulaski where they will face the FireHawks of UT Southern. Tipoff on Saturday, December 10 is slated for 1:00 p.m.