BATESVILLE, Ark. - The Freed-Hardeman Lady Lions built a 16-point second half lead, then held off a late surge by Lyon (Ark.) College in posting a 66-50 win over the Pipers on Monday night.
FHU, which remained at No. 6 in the latest NAIA national ratings released earlier in the day, improves to 15-5 on the season and 5-2 in TranSouth Conference play.
The two teams stayed neck-and-neck until Freed-Hardeman went on an 11-3 run in the final 5:36 of the first half to take a 34-22 lead into halftime despite staying cold from 3-point range after making only 2-of-12 from behind the arc.
After Freed-Hardeman took its largest lead of the game at 45-29 with 12:28 left to play, the Pipers slowly chipped away and eventually pulled with six points (56-50) on a basket by Syeeda Echols with 2:23 on the clock.
But the Lady Lions had an answer, starting with Chelsie Alsup's 15-foot jumper on the next possession that triggered a 10-0 run to end the game. FHU converted 6-of-6 free throws while forcing three turnovers in the final 1:30.
Freed-Hardeman shot 44.2 percent (23-of-52) from the field and just 20 percent (3-for-15) from behind the arc, but held Lyon in check as the Pipers managed 39.3 percent shooting from the floor and 27.2 percent from 3-point range. FHU also converted 17-of-18 free throw attempts in the game.
Jana Cross led all scorers with 21 points on 8-of-13 shooting and grabbed six rebounds. Tara Deatheridge added 15 and Hannah Parsley came off the bench to score 10 points.
FHU returns to action on Thursday in Henderson as the Lady Lions host Mid-Continent (Ky.) College at 6:00 PM.
