Lady Royals Fall to Freed-Hardeman in NAIA Opening Round

BREWER SPORTS CENTER– The Lady Royals saw their season come to an end Friday evening, falling 79-43 to Freed-Hardeman in the opening round of the NAIA Women's Basketball National Tournament. Despite a hard-fought effort, the Lady Royals struggled to find their rhythm offensively, shooting just 23.3% from the field.

Slow Start Hampers Royals
Freed-Hardeman (26-5) set the tone early, jumping out to a 24-10 lead after the first quarter. The Lady Royals (24-6) found difficulty getting shots to fall, going 14-of-60 from the floor and just 6-of-32 from beyond the arc. Meanwhile, the Lions capitalized on their offensive opportunities, shooting an efficient 55.2% for the game and dominating inside with 50 points in the paint.

Key Performers
Emily Wilson led Johnson with 13 points, adding two steals in 21 minutes of action. Kyra Buntyn provided a spark off the bench, contributing 11 points while knocking down two three-pointers. However, the Royals' leading scorers faced a tough defensive effort from Freed-Hardeman, limiting Johnson's scoring chances.

Freed-Hardeman was paced by Rachel Satterly, who poured in 18 points on 7-of-12 shooting, while Jenna Satterly added 15 points. Lilly Kee controlled the boards with 10 rebounds to go along with 14 points, helping the Lions outrebound Johnson 47-29.

Second-Half Surge Seals Fate
Despite a determined effort to cut into the deficit, the Lady Royals were unable to overcome a dominant third quarter from Freed-Hardeman. The Lions outscored Johnson 28-11 in the period, effectively putting the game out of reach. Johnson continued to battle, but their struggles from the free-throw line (9-of-20) made it difficult to mount a comeback.

End of a Strong Season
While the loss ends Johnson's tournament run, the Lady Royals close the season with a 24-6 record, marking one of the best campaigns in program history. The team's defensive tenacity and balanced contributions were key to their success throughout the year, and they will look to build on this experience heading into next season.