Lady Wildcats Host Cumberland Phoenix Saturday at Crisp
MCKENZIE, Tenn. -Fresh off their 76-66 upset win over No. 14 Lindsey Wilson Thursday night in Crisp Arena, the Bethel Lady Wildcats will host the Cumberland Phoenix Saturday in what figures to be another key early season Mid-South Conference match-up.
Bethel (4-1, 1-0) face the visitors (3-3, 0-1) from Lebanon at 2 p.m.
Last Game:
Bethel
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.
CU
Tyra Johnson posts 30 points in a tough conference loss on the road against Freed-Hardeman at the FHU Sports Center on Thursday evening.
Cumberland (3-3, 0-1 MSC) shot 40% from the field and knocked down 10-of-25 (40.0%). The Phoenix outrebounded the Lions 38-34, but turned the ball over seven more times than Freed that translated to 14 points for the Lions.
Johnson scored 30 points on 11-of-26 shooting and 7-of-16 from beyond the arc. She is the first Cumberland women's basketball player to score 30 points in a game since Nicole Bowers in 2016 at Talladega.
Cat Scratches:
Roberts leads Bethel in scoring at 14.6 points per game. Morrow follows at 12.0 per outing. Bryant averages 11.8 points per game and leads the team in rebounding at six boards per game. Head pops in 10.5 points per contest.
The Cats average 70.8 points while yielding 54.8 points per game.
Home Sweet Home:
Saturday's game will be the 155th contest the Lady Cats have played in Crisp Arena. The Cats sport a 132-22 mark in the building.
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 1,107 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.
CU Facts:
Tyra Johnson leads the Phoenix in scoring at 17.5 points per game. Alaina Rongos averages 10.3 per outing. CU averages 73.7 and yields 72.2 points per game.
Coaches:
Coach Chris Nelson is in his 16th season as the head coach of the Lady Wildcats. Nelson is 333-156 and ranks 15th in wins among active coaches in the NAIA.
Coach Scott Blum is in his 4th season as head coach of the Phoenix. He is 21-55 at Cumberland.
Media coverage & Links:
For complete Game Day Notes visit:
https://bethelathletics.com/sports/wbkb/2021-22/2021-22_Women-s_Basketball_Game_Notes_-_Nov._20.pdf
Live stats:https://bethel.prestosports.com/sports/wbkb/2021-22/boxscores/20211118_w0oy.xml
Live video:
https://bethel.prestosports.com/WildcatStreaming
Live radio: WEIO, 100.9 &
https://streamdb6web.securenetsystems.net/v5/WEIO
Fans are reminded tickets for all games at Crisp Arena must be purchased in advance. This will be the norm the remainder of the season.
Fans can purchase tickets with their credit cards only.
Tickets:
https://bethel.prestosports.com/bethel-box-office
It is suggested fans wear a mask and practice social distancing outside their family group. These suggestions are for the safety of each and to assure our student-athletes can complete their seasons in a healthy environment.