Sat, Jan 31, 2009 - [Women's Basketball]
HENDERSON, Tenn. - Apparently, Meribeth Boehler wasn't done after Thursday night.
Two nights after setting career highs in points and rebounds, the sophomore did it again with 25 points and 16 rebounds in No. 6 Freed-Hardeman's 102-59 win over visiting Cumberland (Tenn.) University.
But Boehler wasn't the only one.
Freshman Hannah Parsley poured in 31 points and Chelsie Alsup tied her career-high with 17 points as the Lady Lions lit it up from the field to the tune of 60.3 percent. The trio of Boehler, Parsley, and Alsup went a combined 26-of-35 from the field and 13-of-15 from the free throw line.
"[Point guard] Whitney [Johnson's] taking the ball to the basket more is helping our offense," said FHU head coach Dale Neal. "Meribeth is making great moves and Hannah was just remarkable from the outside."
Cumberland was able hang around early in the game, trailing 17-12 with 10:24 in the first half, before FHU went on a 16-4 run that included 11 unanswered points. A 17-4 run followed shortly thereafter as the Lady Lions built a 50-22 lead at the break.
The second half was more of the same with Parsley scoring 19 second-half points as the Lady Lions breezed to the comfortable win.
Nicole Duncan also reached double digits with 10 points, all of which came in the first half.
The Lady Lion defense held the Lady Bulldogs to 34.8 percent shooting. Today marked the 11th time this season, and fourth game in a row, that the Lady Lions have held an opponent under 60 points. But Neal still sees room for improvement on the defensive end.
"I didn't think we defended as well tonight team-wise," he said. "We're getting better but we have a way to go."
Freed-Hardeman improves to 18-5 on the season and 8-2 in conference play with the win. The Lady Lions hit the road next week, starting with a rematch with No. 5 Lambuth (Tenn.) University in Jackson, Tenn., at 6:00 PM on Thursday.
