HENDERSON, Tenn. –The No. 10 Bethel Lady Wildcats and the No. 8 Freed-Hardeman Lady Lions both shot the ball poorly Saturday afternoon and in the end it would be FHU with just enough to win in overtime 56-50. Bethel's Shamon Pearson hit two free throws with 2.8 seconds left to send the teams to the extra period knotted at 43 all.
Bethel was 16-of-68 from the floor for just 23 percent. The Lady Cats shot 18 percent connecting on 4-of-22 from behind the three-point arc. Bethel was 14-of-22 from the foul line.
FHU was a tad better from the field at 32 percent but struggled mightily from the three-point area. The Lady Lions were just 3-of-23 from downtown at 13 percent. They hit 9-of-14 free throw tosses.
Bethel had a 50-36 advantage in rebounding but struggled with 21 turnovers. Freed had 13 turnovers.
Cayla Sheets led Bethel with 16 points. Madison Steppee had a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
Taleeah Cross led FHU with 19 points.
Coach Chris Nelson said, "We are proud of the effort our basketball team had today. It is a tough one to swallow but I thought both teams battled in a championship environment where points were hard to come by. We knew we would have to grind it out but we came up short. We will continue to work on our game and keep moving forward as we have a difficult schedule ahead. Shots have not fallen for us early in the season but it has forced us to work on the small things that lead to big things. We are on that fine line between success and failure and our team realizes that and will go back to work next week with the big picture in mind."
Bethel has ten days off until they host FHU in Crisp Arena on November 22.
