MONTGOMERY, Ala. – After finding out earlier in the day their game Saturday versus Life would be a forfeit in their favor the No. 24 Bethel Lady Wildcats proceeded to make it two wins Tuesday with an 82-72 win at Faulkner University in Montgomery. The victories moved Bethel to 7-4 overall and 3-2 in the MSC. Faulkner dropped to 1-3. Life announced earlier they would be unable to compete with the necessary roster for the game scheduled in Crisp Arena.
Jani Crawford returned to the lineup and was an early factor scoring Bethel's first five points. She and Millie Bryant scored seven each in the first quarter and led Bethel to an 18-9 lead at the end of one. Balance was the key in the second quarter with the scoring of Mickey Head, Ever Walker and Madison Henagar enabling Bethel to lead at the break 39-30.
Head led Bethel with nine third quarter points and the Lady Cats pulled away to lead 61-47 at the end of the stanza. Ever Walker would add to the balance with a productive fourth quarter and the Lady Cats would win by ten. The 82 points marked the third highest output of the season for Bethel.
Bethel shot 44 percent from the field and hit six three-pointers. The Cats hit 18-of-28 free throw attempts. Faulkner shot 38 percent and knocked down seven three's. The Eagles were 27 -of-42 from the charity stripe. Bethel finished with a 43-34 rebound advantage. The Cats had a 26-8 margin in bench points and a 44-20 advantage in points in the paint.
Balance was the key as Crawford led Bethel with 19 points. Head finished with 17, Walker scored 16 and Bryant had 15. Heneger finished the night with 10 points.
Faulkner's Ashlyn Adkins led all scorers with 24 points.
Coach Chris Nelson was pleased with the win and effort, "We are overly proud of this team. This was a great road win on the road tonight and felt like our team grew up some in a tough environment. We fought foul trouble throughout the night and our bench stepped up. Our team responded every time it was hit hard and we found a way to win. We have been harping on taking charges and they were able to take six tonight. It was a total team effort and it was exactly what this team needed."
The Bethel women's game scheduled Saturday at Martin Methodist has been postponed. A make-up date has not been announced at this time.
Fans are encouraged to visit www.bethelathletics.com on a daily basis for changes effecting the schedules for all Bethel squads.
