Lady Cats Open Conference Play with Win over No. 14 Lindsey Wilson
MCKENZIE. Tenn. –In what promised to be good game between two very good MSC teams, turned out to be just that Thursday night in Crisp Arena. The 14th ranked Lady Blue Raiders of Lindsey Wilson and the Bethel Lady Wildcats squared off in the conference openers for both squads.
Bethel used a five-point unanswered run to close out the first half to take a 37-32 advantage at the break. The Lady Cats had trailed 17-15 after one. The Lady Wildcats scored the first seven points of the third quarter to up their margin to 43-32. They led by double digits much of the second half. LWC would cut the lead to three at one point of the fourth, but Bethel answered to win 76-66.
Every time Lindsey Wilson would make a run, a Lady Cat would hit a big bucket to stave off the Raider rally. Kalynn Howard, Madison Henegar, and Ryann Roberts knocked down big shots in the fourth to allow the Cats to move to 4-1 overall and 1-0 in league play. LWC fell to 3-1 and 0-1.
Roberts hit four three-pointers giving her 15 on the season. She led Bethel with 18 points. Mickey Head had a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Millie Bryant was solid with 11 points and eight boards. Morrow nailed several big buckets in the second half and finished with 14 points. Hailey Ison led the Blue Raiders with 13 tallies. Sydnie Hall followed with 12 points while Amerah Steele tossed in 10 points.
BU shot 45 percent from the floor connecting on 26-of-57 attempts. LWC was 22-of-66 from the field at 33 percent. Bethel hit 11 three -pointers while LWC hit eight treys on the night. Bethel had a 31-26 advantage in rebounding.
Coach Chris Nelson expressed how proud he was of his team. "Tonight was a true team win.
We were extremely proud of our ladies and how they responded after a tough week of practice following the Tennessee Tech game. Every night in this league will be like it was tonight. Coach Vaughn had our team prepared with a great scout and our entire squad did a nice job preparing all week." Nelson added, "Mickey responded well on both ends and defended and rebounded at a high level. Our guard play was exceptional, and Madison Henegar did all the little things tonight and hit a clutch shot for our team. We will enjoy this one for the evening and get ready for a talented Cumberland team."
The M & M Watch:
Two Bethel seniors, Mickey Head and Millie Bryant continue to stamp their names in the record book in their respective careers.
After the night, Head has 1, 07 career points. After transferring from Martin Methodist, she has 534 of those in a Wildcat uniform. She has 745 career rebounds and 232 assists. Mickey has 126 blocks at Bethel giving her 219 in her career.
Bryant has 929 career points. Only 18 players have scored 1, 000 points or more in program history. Millie has 489 career rebounds. Only nine players have scored 1,000 points or more and grabbed 500 rebounds or more as a Lady Wildcat. Bryant has 228 assists which is 16th in program history. She has 148 career three- three pointers which is 12th in program history.
The Lady Wildcats host long-time rival Cumberland University Saturday at 2 p.m. Bethel is 132-22 all-time in Crisp Arena.
Live stats:
https://bethel.prestosports.com/sports/wbkb/2021-22/boxscores/20211118_w0oy.xml
Live video:
https://bethel.prestosports.com/WildcatStreaming
Live radio:
https://streamdb6web.securenetsystems.net/v5/WEIO
Tickets:
https://bethel.prestosports.com/bethel-box-office
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