Lady Lions see great season end at Clarke

March 8, 2023

by Dustin Semore, FHU Sports Information Director

DUBUQUE, Iowa — The (RV) Freed-Hardeman University Lady Lions saw a season that began with an undefeated 10-0 nonconference slate end with a 63-58 loss to No. 7 Clarke (Iowa) University. The Lady Lions led for the majority of the second half, but late free throws from the hosting Pride eliminated the Lady Lions.

Freed-Hardeman (24-10) opened the scoring with a 3-point bucket from Madisyn Baugher, followed by a layup from Elli Chumley. Clarke answered back in the middle of the frame, jumping on a 7-0 run, with five of those being from the free-throw line. The Lady Lions would have an answer at the end of the quarter, with KJ white tallying layups before and after a set of Chumley free throws. A late Clarke jumper tied affairs 15-15 after the first quarter.

The second frame was back and forth with an early Clarke (29-4) layup erasing a White layup. The Lady Lions led by no more than four points, but each time the Pride had an answer. Late in the quarter, a six-point unanswered run by the Clarke gave the hosts the lead for the first time in the half, but Rees Berkey tallied a pair of free throws to end the first half tied up 28-28.

Quarter three was all Freed-Hardeman when White's jumper was followed by 3-pointers from Baugher and Kelsey Bender. A set of late layups gave the Lady Lions their largest lead of the night at 48-40 after 30 minutes.

The Clarke defense stifled the FHU shooters, allowing just four field goals in the final quarter. Meanwhile, a triple from the Pride cut the lead to one point before eight made free throws combined with the Lady Lion drought completed the comeback as the Lady Lions helplessly watched the clock reach 0:00 with a 63-58 final.

KJ White was 7-16 from the floor, leading FHU's shooters with 17 points, with Elli Chumley following closely behind with 12 points.