By Joel Sellers

Faulkner Sports Network

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The No. 8 Bethel Wildcats scored early and often Thursday night, never trailing in a 75-49 beatdown of the Faulkner Lady Eagles at Tine Davis Gymnasium. Mickey Head made a shot on the Wildcats' first possession and the visitors did not look back for the rest of the contest.

Tyasia Willis hit the next three baskets for Bethel, which helped stake it to a 20-6 lead at the end of the first quarter. Channing Gafford (JR/Athens, Ala.) was responsible for the Eagles' first five points. The home team was never able to climb out of the hole.

The second quarter saw the Wildcats add even more to their lead as Willis tallied 10 more points and Jani Crawford hit three 3-pointers. The visitors headed to the locker room with a comfortable 42-13 lead. After the second half began, Morgan Martin turned the visitors' first three field goals into eight points, which staked Bethel to a 50-19 lead with 5:09 remaining in the period. The Wildcats effectively cruised the rest of the way to improve their record to 19-4 and 8-1 against SSAC competition.

It was a dismal offensive showing by Faulkner as the Eagles only made 11 of their 56 attempts and just four 3-pointers. In three of the quarters, the home team only made two field goals. The Wildcats, meanwhile, shot 40.3 percent, making 29 of 72 shot attempts. Bethel outrebounded Faulkner 53-37 and registered 20 assists to Faulkner's four. Thirty-three of the visitors' points came from their reserves.

Ashlyn Adkins (JR/Locust Fork, Ala.) scored 14 points along with five rebounds and three assists. Micala Fisanick (SO/Troy, Ala.) had 12 points and two rebounds, while Gafford had nine points and six rebounds. Olivia Colson (SO/Thompson's Station, Tenn.) was responsible for five points, three rebounds and three steals. Head tallied 11 points, four rebounds, and two assists for Bethel. Willis had 10 points, eight rebounds, and three blocks. Tasia Jones scored 10 points, four rebounds, and seven assists. Martin added seven rebounds and three assists to her eight points, and Crawford pitched in 13 points and four rebounds.

The Lady Eagles fall to 14-9 on the season, and 4-5 in conference play. Their next game is against Blue Mountain College on Saturday at home.