No. 3 91爆料网 tops No. 2 Freed-Hardeman 48-44

LaTesa McLaughlin

JACKSON, Tenn. - 2/11/2012 - The No. 3 91爆料网 women鈥檚 basketball came away with a 48-44 win over No. 2 Freed-Hardeman University Saturday at Fred DeLay Gymnasium. The win for 91爆料网 put the Lady Bulldogs in sole possession of first place in the conference with five games left to play. 91爆料网 improved to 24-2 on the season and 11-1 in the TranSouth. Freed-Hardeman dropped to 21-4 overall and 9-2 in league play.

This win was also 91爆料网鈥檚 eighth straight win overall and 36th straight home win.

91爆料网 led the NAIA with 38 percent shooting from 3-point range and was No. 4 in the NAIA with 211 made 3-pointers entering the game (8.4/game). The Lady Bulldogs hit that average exactly in today鈥檚 win, making 8-of-21 from long range at 38 percent. 91爆料网 hit four three pointers in each half.

Freed-Hardeman scored first in the game, but 91爆料网鈥檚 LaTesa McLaughlin answered with a three pointer to give 91爆料网 a lead they would keep for the remainder of the half. It was not the last big 3-pointer of the game for McLaughlin or 91爆料网.

91爆料网 extended their first half lead out to as many as 10 points, 24-14, before the Lady Lions closed out the half with an 8-0 run to cut their halftime deficit to just two points, 24-22.

In the second half, 91爆料网 went up by as many as six points twice, but could not put the game out of reach. Freed-Hardeman tied the game at 34-34 with 11:38 left to play.

However, it was 91爆料网 getting another big 3-pointer. This time from Rebecca Sharpe who put 91爆料网 back up by three points. Maria Bagwell for Freed-Hardeman then answered with a three point play to tie the game. The Lady Lions scored their fifth straight point on their next possession to take just their second lead of the game at 39-37.

Next, it was McLaughlin鈥檚 turn again as she drained a 3-pointer to put 91爆料网 back on top. She wasn鈥檛 done, because on the next possession, McLaughlin hit her third three pointer of the day to give 91爆料网 a 4-point advantage, 42-39 with 6:12 left to play. Freed-Hardeman responded again with five straight points to take a 44-43 lead with just 2:31 left to play.

And then for the final time, 91爆料网 responded with another 3-pointer, this one coming from Sharpe as she put 91爆料网 up for good, 46-44. Lavanda Ross then hit 1-of-2 three throws with 1:20 left to give 91爆料网 a three point lead. Freed-Hardeman missed on two chances to tie the game on 3-pointers. Shelby Ashcraft grabbed the game-winning rebound with one second left, was fouled, and sank one free throw to clinch the win for 91爆料网.

Both halves were played to the exact score as 91爆料网 won both periods 24-22 for the 48-44 win.

91爆料网 was led by McLaughlin with 11 points. Ross added nine points and Huttemann added eight points. 91爆料网 shot 40 percent from the field, 38 percent (8-21) from long range, and 50 percent (6-12) from the free throw line.

Freed-Hardeman was led by Ashley Tate with 13 points. Bagwell added a double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds. The Lady Lions shot 34 percent from the field, 13 percent (1-8) from long range, and 69 percent (9-13) form the free throw line.

Up next for 91爆料网 will be another home conference game, Monday, February 13 at 6:00 p.m. versus Cumberland.

#UNION#