No. 25 Tigers Stopped by No. 6 Lions in MSC Opener

HENDERSON, Tenn. – The No. 25 Georgetown College women's basketball team (15-2, 0-1 MSC) opened Mid-South Conference play with a 76-74 loss to No. 6 Freed-Hardeman (16-0, 1-0 MSC) in the Brewer Sports Center on Thursday night. 

HOW IT HAPPENED
Georgetown came out ready to compete in all facets of the game as it stormed out to a quick 5-0 lead in the early goings. The Lions used their next three possessions to tie things at 5-5 before Georgetown found offense from both Anna Long and Jordan Day to go up 9-7. Georgetown scored in a variety of ways, with 10 of its 18 first-quarter points coming from the paint. More impressively, though, five offensive rebounds pulled down in the opening frame alone led to four second-chance points and an 18-16 lead through 10 minutes.

The Tigers built upon their first-quarter lead, scoring on two of their first three possessions to start the second quarter. Kayra Freeman scored six of her seven first-half points all in the first three minutes of the second period before Daysha Reid got hot from distance. The Tigers held a 36-30 lead at the media timeout in the second, much in part to Reid's 3-pointer, which pushed the Tiger advantage to six, the largest of the opening half. Reid's 12 first-half points were not enough as Freed-Hardeman commanded a 39-38 lead at the break after converting a layup with 39 seconds to go.

The first six points of the third quarter went to Georgetown, who took a 44-39 lead just two minutes into the frame. Despite steady offense from Gale and Reid, the Tigers faced a one-point deficit at the media break in the third due to the Lions' Satterly sisters scoring a combined seven points in a little over a minute stretch. A clutch 3-pointer from Taylee Woodbury from well beyond the arc fueled the Tigers in the closing minutes of the third as the visitors took a 60-59 lead into the fourth.

Anna Long's 3-pointer started the scoring for the Tigers in the fourth. Georgetown's lead grew to as many as five in the first seven minutes of the fourth before a Rachel Satterly 3-pointer tied the game at 72-72 at the 3:17 mark. Jordan Day's layup just under two minutes to go was Georgetown's final field goal of the evening, though, as the hosts converted on both of their shot attempts in the game's final minute. Brooklyn Crouch's floating layup in the paint sealed things for Freed-Hardeman, who pulled out the 76-74 victory after Anna Long's game-winning 3-point attempt rimmed out at the buzzer. 

THE TEAM 
Georgetown shot 47.7% from the field. The Tigers were 7-24 (29.2%) from deep and were 5-9 (55.6%) at the free-throw line. GC outrebounded FHU by seven, 33-26. The Tigers also led in assists, 12-10, while the Lions picked up five blocks to the Tigers' one. GC had six steals while the Lions created five.

THE PLAYERS
* Daysha Reid finished with a game-high 21 points on 9-of-17 shooting with one rebound.
* Kayra Freeman had 14 points and five rebounds with four assists.
* Jordan Day added 12 points off the bench with five rebounds and a block.

UP NEXT
The Tigers finish the week on the road when they take on No. 1 Bethel University (16-1, 1-0 MSC) on Saturday, January 10.

Tip-off is set for 2:00 p.m. against the Wildcats in Crisp Arena.