McKENZIE, Tenn. - Fifth-ranked Bethel used a 16-0 run that lasted from late in the first half into the first part of the second and Faulkner could never recover as the Lady Wildcats scratched their way to a 76-51 victory here Monday night in a Southern States Athletic Conference battle at the Crisp Center.

The Eagles, who fell to 4-10 overall and 0-4 in the league after their fourth-straight tough road outing in conference play, led the game 22-18 but Bethel scored the last nine points of the first half and the first seven of the third period to build a 34-22 advantage. The Lady Wildcats (11-3 overall, 4-0 SSAC) saw the margin trimmed to six later in the quarter before steadily pulling away. Bethel, playing without leading scorer Jackliann Street who broke a finger in a victory over Auburn Montgomery Saturday, led 51-36 after three quarters and built as much as a 29-point cushion at 70-41 with 3:46 to play in the game.

Despite the loss, Faulkner head coach Reed Sutton remained positive about his team's position as it heads home for its first conference games of the season at Tine Davis Gymnasium. The Lady Eagles play Blue Mountain and William Carey Thursday evening and Saturday afternoon, respectively.

"I think we actually played better tonight," Sutton said. "I thought we battled against a really good team, and I'm not thinking many teams would have a whole lot of success against the four teams we've opened our conference schedule against. We need to get back on track Thursday and if we play with the effort we gave tonight we've got some very winnable games in front of us."

Erichea Barnes led Faulkner with 12 points, followed by Faith LeGate's 11 and China Leary's 10. The Lady Eagles' effort was thwarted by another poor shooting night, making just 22 percent of their shots. Faulkner was outrebounded 47-37 by the Lady Wildcats, who were paced by SSAC Player of the Week Shamon Pearson's 24 points. Abbey Dew and Jasmine Whittmore added 11 apiece for Bethel, which made 11 3-pointers in the game. Faulkner countered with seven, with Savana Flack, Emma Herren and Barnes each hitting a pair from long range.

"We're doing some good things, and I can count on one hand the bad shots we took," Sutton said. "Our shot selection was good, we just couldn't knock them down. Hopefully heading home will result in us shooting it better."

Just as it did in Saturday's setback at Martin Methodist, Faulkner got off to a fast start only to see it slip in the second quarter. Four 3-pointers in the first quarter - two from Barnes and one each from Emma Herren and Savana Flack - helped the Lady Eagles build as much as a nine-point lead. Faulkner led 18-12 after the opening 10 minutes but scored only four points in the second period as Bethel grabbed the advantage. Pearson was held scoreless in the first quarter but had back-to-back baskets late in the half that provided the hosts with a 27-22 lead heading to the locker room.

Faulkner hosts Blue Mountain Thursday evening in another SSAC battle. The game tips off at 5:30.