Tue, Nov 10, 2009 - [Women's Basketball]
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - It had been nearly 10 years since the former conference rivals had met, and the Freed-Hardeman Lady Lions made the most of the renewed series.
The Lady Lions nailed 11 3-pointers and shot 59.3 percent in the second half on their way to an 85-76 exhibition win over NCAA Division I Lipscomb (Tenn.) University on Tuesday night in Lipscomb's Allen Arena.
It marks the fourth straight time FHU has defeated Lipscomb, with the last meeting before tonight taking place on Feb. 28, 2000, a game won by Freed-Hardeman, 83-74.
Tonight's game did not count in the record books for either team, but still counted as a defining moment in the early season for the Lady Lions, who were ranked No. 6 in the NAIA's preseason poll.
FHU got off to a slow start, missing its first six shots to allow Lipscomb time to build an early 7-0 lead. Jana Cross finally broke the slump at the 17:16 mark, but Lipscomb's Valerie Bronson converted a layup to keep the Lady Bisons' lead at seven points.
As it turned out, it would be the largest lead that the hosts would hold.
Meribeth Boehler's two free throws with 10:20 left in the first half gave FHU its first lead at 18-17, and the Lady Bisons would never regain it. The free throws came in the midst of a 12-2 run that helped FHU take a 23-17 edge, but another 12-2 run that came later in the half did more damage.
Leading by three with 5:21 in the half, Freed-Hardeman scored on its next five possessions - ending with back-to-back 3-pointers from Tara Deatheridge - to open a 43-30 lead with 42 seconds to go. Bronson made two free throws just before halftime to send FHU into the locker rooms with a 43-32 lead.
Freed-Hardeman got its lead up to 14 points to begin the second half, but Lipscomb came back with a 10-2 run to pull within six points at 48-42 with 15:37 left. But as they had done all night, the Lady Lions stopped the rally with a 3-pointer, this one by Hannah Parsley. Lipscomb would get no closer than eight points the rest of the way as FHU held a double-digit lead for the majority of the second half, leading by as many as 16 points (69-53) with 7:11 left and still holding a 14 point lead inside one minute to play.
Parsley led all scorers with 22 points on 8-of-11 shooting that included four 3-pointers. Deatheridge added 18 points on six 3-pointers and grabbed seven rebounds. Jana Cross had 14 points and eight boards, while Boehler rounded out FHU's double-digit scorers with 11 points.
After opening the game on the 0-for-6 stretch, the Lady Lions shot 56.1 percent for the rest of the game. They shot 59.3 percent in the second half while holding Lipscomb to 35.7 percent.
Tonight marked the second time that FHU has beaten an NCAA Division I team. The Lady Lions won 97-85 against Jacksonville (Ala.) State on Dec. 1, 1994.
Freed-Hardeman returns to action on Thursday at 7:00 PM against No. 9 Lambuth (Tenn.) University in Jackson at 7:00 PM.
