The Lee women’s basketball team returns to the hardwood inside Walker Arena and will host NAIA power Bethel University (McKenzie, Tenn.) on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m.
“We are excited to get the team back and getting them working together again," said Coach Marty Rowe after welcoming his squad back on Tuesday. Following NCAA guidelines, the Lady Flames had not been together since the Dec. 17th win over Shorter. “Every D2 team is in the same boat as we are, so it is the teams that return with purpose and urgency that will have early success.
We are looking forward to the process of getting better each and every day. It is that simple thought process that this team has bought into so far.”
Bethel is a member of the Mid-South Conference and brings a 12-3 record into the contest. Like the Lady Flames, the Lady Wildcats dropped the first two games of the season and rebounded to win 11 straight. The winning streak ended when they traveled to Florida and lost to Southeastern University but remained in Florida for a victory over Ave Maria before beginning the Christmas break.
The Lady Flames (8-2) likewise began their year with two defeats but will bring an eight-game winning streak into Saturday’s action. “Bethel has a really good team, and this should be a good test for us returning from break,” noted Coach Rowe. “I’ve known Coach (Chris) Nelson for a long time and have a lot of respect for his program. Hopefully, this game will allow both teams to shake some rust off and get us both ready for league play.”
Nelson is in his 18th season of directing the Bethel program. He holds an overall coaching record of 363-185. This will be the eighth meeting between the two clubs and Bethel holds a 4-3 edge in the series. Rowe took his team to McKenzie in 2013 and Lee defeated Bethel.
The Lady Wildcats score 69 points per game and allow 59. They are led by sophomore Madison Hart (16 ppg), senior Alyia Lee (11 ppg, 7 rpg) and freshman Kylie Reynolds (10 ppg). Two other players, senior Anya Patterson and Kalynn Howard tally over nine points each while Howard collects five rebounds per outing.
The Lady Flames look to the veteran leadership of senior Mallory Hampton. The talented senior guard is second in the GSC in scoring 17.7 ppg. She is also No. 2 in free-throw shooting (60-of-69) .870% and 4th in assists, 4.3 per game. Junior Haylee Johnson averages 10 ppg and 3 assists. Senior Addison Smith is another starter leading the team in field goal percentage (20-of-41) .488%. Junior Mia Hurst and freshman Keira Leffew have come off the bench to produce positive numbers. Hurst pulls down almost four boards, while Leffew shoots over 60% from the field, and rips down 5 rebounds. Overall, Lee scores 66.20 each time out and gives up 58.60 on the defensive end.
The Lady Flames will take a first place 7-0 conference record on the road to Clinton, Mississippi on Jan. 2nd and face Mississippi College. The adventure continues in Cleveland, Mississippi on Jan. 4th when they face rival Delta State. The task will continue in Carrollton, Georgia on Jan. 8th against the University of West Georgia where Lee tries to tame to Wolves.
“With the way the GSC schedule is structured you are actually jumping right back into a series of tough road games right off the bat,” pointed out Coach Rowe. “Honestly, there are no easy trips in this league, and we will need to prepare over the next several days getting ready for Mississippi College and Delta State.”