The WWU Lady Owls came up short against the top-ranked, undefeated Lady Lions on Saturday at Anderson Arena.
The score was tied at 53-all with 2 minutes, 8 seonds left in the game. Freed-Hardeman University (28-0, 22-0) scored six straight points as William Woods University (18-9, 15-7 AMC) missed six shots in a row to take a 59-53 edge with :17 left.
The Lady Owls - who previously lost to the Lady Lions 62-50 on Jan. 7 in Henderson, Tennessee - trailed 18-9 after the first quarter Saturday, but cut the deficit to 28-25 at halftime. The Lady Owls outscored the Lady Lions 18-15 in the third quarter to tie the game at 43-all.
Freshman guard Peyton Greenlee guided the Lady Owls - who shot just 35 percent (23-of-66) from the field - with 12 points. Freshman guard Kaycee Gerald and junior guard Jasmine Brown provided 11 points apiece and senior forward Kelsey Scherder finished with 10.
Gerald also collected a team-high 10 rebounds, but Freed-Hardeman owned a 48-47 edge on the boards.
Taleeah Cross paced the Lady Lions - who shot a dismal 32 percent (23-of-71) as a team - with a game-high 27 points. Tiffany Pate came up with 13 points and pulled down a game-high 16 rebounds.
The Lady Owls play AMC foe Stephens College at 7 p.m. Thursday in Columbia. William Woods beat the Stars 58-45 on Jan. 12 in Fulton.