March 22, 2008

JACKSON, Tenn. - Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) University went on a 15-0 run early in the second half, turning what had been a seven-point halftime deficit into a double-digit lead, clinching the Lady Lions' second Final Four appearance in the program's history with a 76-70 victory over Lubbock Christian (Texas) at the 28^th Annual NAIA Division I Women's Basketball National Championship.

 

The win was the 600^th career victory for Freed-Hardeman head coach Dale Neal, who has led the Lady Lions to 366 wins in his 14 seasons with the program. He coached 11 seasons prior to joining Freed-Hardeman for the 1994-95 season. He has led the program to 12 consecutive NAIA Tournament appearances, which represents Freed-Hardeman's entire national tournament history.

 

Sophomore forward Jana Cross scored a game-high 27 points, including 19 in Freed-Hardeman's 51-point second half. Cross had seven points, including her first three-pointer of the season, in the 15-point spurt that gave her team a 46-36 lead with 12:37 remaining in the game and turned the game in favor of the Lady Lions for good.

 

Lubbock Christian led by as many as 12 points after a 22-6 run gave the Lady Chaps a 30-18 advantage with 6:19 left in the first half. However, Lubbock Christian scored only a single basket over the final six minutes of the half to take a 32-25 lead into halftime. Over a nearly 14-minute stretch that encompassed the final six minutes of the first half and the first seven-and-a-half minutes after halftime, Freed-Hardeman outscored Lubbock Christian, 28-4, with the 15-0 run capping the turnaround.

 

Freed-Hardeman led by at least eight points until the final 2:25, when freshman Bailey St. Clair's second-chance basket cut the deficit to 62-55 as Lubbock Christian began fouling to make the Lady Lions earn the victory from the free throw line. Freed-Hardeman made nine-of-10, but each successful scoring trip to the line was answered by Lubbock Christian, which cut the lead to 71-65 on junior guard Jordan Hampton's three-pointer with 19 seconds to play. The Lady Lions missed both ends of a double bonus opportunity, and Hampton drained another trey to pull the Lady Chaps to within three points at 71-68 with 13 seconds remaining. Senior guard Kori Bledsoe made three-of-four and Cross nailed a pair of free throws in the closing seconds for the final 76-70 margin.

 

Hampton finished with a team-high 18 points for Lubbock Christian, while junior guard Sierra Wilcox-Lovorn added 17 points and a game-high six assists. Senior forward Carolyn Manning added 12 points, a game-high 14 rebounds and also dished out six assists for the Lady Chaps, who finish the season with a 25-10 record.

 

Freed-Hardeman improves to 29-7 overall and advances to Monday's 6 p.m. semifinal, where they will take on TranSouth conference rival Trevecca Nazarene, which is making its first-ever Final Four appearance. Freed-Hardeman swept the season series between the teams, beating the Trojans 90-80 at home before edging them on the road by a 70-68 score. The teams did not meet in the TranSouth Conference postseason tournament.