MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Lady Eagles refused to go away and built a couple of strong rallies, but could not overcome strong rebounding and defense by Freed-Hardeman in a 63-53 loss at Tine Davis Gymnasium Monday night. The visitors won three quarters and were only one point behind in the other.
Defense mostly ruled the day as the Lady Lions only shot 36.9 percent from the floor and 33.3 percent from three-range, but Faulkner could not manage any better at 33.9 percent and 29.2 percent, respectively. The teams committed 17 turnovers each, both scored 14 points off of those and each squad hit all but one free throw attempt. The difference came in the boards, as Freed-Hardeman tallied 44 total and 15 on the offensive end, compared to just 33 and seven for Faulkner. Thanks to that factor, the Lady Lions were ahead in second-chance points 12-6, and also won the battles of points in the paint and points scored off the bench. The last stat came courtesy of reserve Alyssa LeMay, who has now led FHU in scoring in all three matchups with Faulkner during these current players' careers.
The Lady Lions jumped out to a quick 10-2 lead by the 6:29 mark of the first period after Reagen Floyd made a three on the game's first possession. A steal and score by
Micala Fisanick and a floater by
Ashlyn Adkins sandwiched a LeMay bucket, before two FHU free throws preceded a long-range shot by
Nequoia Adams with four seconds left in the quarter to get it to 14-11.
The second quarter's opening possession saw Fisanick get the rebound off her miss and assist a tying three by
Channing Gafford to start a run of nine consecutive points by the hosts.
Morgan Holland gave Faulkner its first lead with a layup after she got the rebound on the other end. Adkins then did the same before another Holland bucket following a Gafford steal gave the Eagles a 20-14 lead. The Lady Lions made it a two-point game before another Holland layup. At the 4:20 mark,
Angela Grant checked into her first game on campus since tearing her ACL against Bethel almost a full year ago, and she registered two rebounds and a layup within a minute of going into action. With her score, Faulkner held a 24-18 lead, but a Floyd three and a Kaylee Odom bucket pulled FHU to within one and started a 10-2 run. Following an exchange of buckets, LeMay hit a long-range shot as time expired in the half to give her team a 28-26 lead.
Freed-Hardeman began the second half with an 11-1 run, with four points by Kinlee Varnell and another LeMay three, that helped the visitors take control. The Lady Eagles pulled closer once more with threes from
Megan Wilkinson,
Jacie Andrews and
Evaiah Burrows, but the Lady Lions responded to each. Faulkner once got within five points in the final quarter, but no closer.
Holland led Faulkner with 14 points, and Adams had 11 with three assists; each claimed three rebounds. Adkins scored nine points and five rebounds, and Fisanick had three boards and two steals. Gafford registered six points, four boards and two steals. Grant tallied seven rebounds in 14 minutes, her most playing time since last year's opener.
LeMay scored 14 points, seven boards and three steals. Allie Crumpler was next with 13 points, and Floyd, Odom and Chynia Brooks each scored eight. Varnell racked up nine rebounds, and Brooks and Caroline Chambers had eight apiece. Varnell and Floyd each came up with two steals.
Freed-Hardeman improves to 8-3, and remains undefeated in women's basketball against Faulkner in the rivalry of the Church of Christ sister schools. Faulkner (7-7) falls back to .500 with the loss. The Lady Eagles will head south to play NCAA DI South Alabama in an exhibition game tomorrow to wrap up nonconference play before taking off for Christmas. Faulkner then resumes its schedule on Jan. 3, 2022 at William Carey, where it will try to gain its first conference win of the season.
