MCKENZIE, Tenn. – Coming off an impressive season opening 86-46 victory over Hiwassee College over the weekend the No. 11 Bethel Lady Wildcats made it two wins in a row with an 86-62 victory over visiting Fisk University Thursday night in Crisp Arena. Fisk fell to 0-2 on the young season.
Fisk jumped out to an early 5-0 lead but behind three baskets from Madison Steppee the Lady Wildcats caught the visitors from Nashville and took a 16-8 lead. A Fisk comeback was capped off by a Jada Jones three pointer in the waning seconds of the first quarter and it cut the Bethel lead to 18-15 at the end of the period.
Fisk continued that surge and outscored Bethel 15-3 at one point and led 32-25 in the second stanza. Three-pointers by Shamon Pearson and Jasmine Whittemore pulled Bethel to within 32-31. The Lady Cats would eventually outscore the Bulldogs 12-0 to end the quarter and lead 37-32 at the half.
The Lady Wildcats pulled away in the third quarter using a 19-2 run to take control of the game. The Lady Cats would lead by as many as 26 with 7:43 left in the contest.
The Lady Wildcats shot 42 percent from the floor hitting 34-of-80 shots. Bethel hit nine three-pointers and out rebounded Fisk 52-35. Fisk shot only 29 percent hitting 18-of-62 from the floor.
Shamon Pearson led Bethel with 17 points. Laurhen Pickett had a double double with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Former Gibson County High standouts Briana Fields and Jasmine Whittemore had 11 points each. Fields also had five rebounds and a game high five assists. Steppee finished with eight points and nine rebounds.
Lashae Brown led the Lady Bulldogs with 23 points and nine rebounds.
With the victory over Hiwassee Bethel is now 79 -9 all-time in Crisp Arena. They are 43 -8 against non-conference opponents in the building. In all 363 games under Coach Nelson the Lady Wildcats have hit at least one three-pointer.
Coach Nelson commented, "We played well at times but we need to clean a lot of things up. I like our depth and feel good about the different options on the offensive end. We are not as strong as we were on the defensive end last year but we will improve as the season progresses. This will be a work in progress but I like our team."
The Lady Wildcats host No. 3 Freed-Hardeman Saturday at 1:30 p.m. Five of Bethel's nine losses in Crisp Arena are to the Lady Lions.
The game will be aired on WEIO, 100.9 and at www.thefarmradio.com. The Countdown to Tip-off Show begins at 1:30 p.m. The game will also be available on Wildcat Vision at www.bethelathletics.com. Dave McCulley and Zach O'Kelley call the action on both entities.
