COLUMBIA, Ky.- The Blue Raiders defeated the No.5-ranked Lions of Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) 70-63 Thursday night in Biggers Sports Center. 

Tonight's win marks the first win against a top-5 ranked program since Feb. 24, 2022 when the Blue Raiders took down the then No.3-ranked Thomas Moore (Ky.) in the Mid-South Conference Quarterfinals. 

Meadow Tisdale led the offensive brigade with a double-double tallying 33 points on 14-of-21 shooting and 12 rebounds to lead all scores on the night. Claire Fleming was the other Blue Raider in double-figures with 10 points on 7-of-8 shooting from the free throw line.

Tisdale opened the first quarter scoring with a layup at 9:37 for an early 2-0 lead. FHU's Brooklyn Crouch answered back with a layup of her own at 8:05 to level the scoring 2-2. From 7:40 to 4:21, both teams traded buckets with Tisdale scoring seven more consecutive points to push the Blue Raiders ahead 9-8. Fleming found a cutting Saniyah Shelton at 3:13 to increase the lead to 11-8. Lindsey Wilson closed the quarter on a 5-2 run to take a 16-10 edge headed into the second quarter. 

Freed-Hardeman went on an 11-0 run to start the second quarter to pull ahead of Lindsey Wilson 21-16. Two free throws from Fleming put an end to the Lions' run, cutting the deficit to 21-18 with 5:32 on the clock. A layup from Amelia Hodges, followed by a three-pointer from Tisdale on an assist from Fleming, tied the game back at 23-23 at 3:02. Hodges found Tisdal,e who had sealed off her defender for a lay-in with 1:21 on the clock and a 25-25 score. With 0:06 left before the half, Emma Barnett found Hodges open on the wing for a three, giving Lindsey Wilson the 28-25 edge headed into the half. 

Jarie Thomas and the Lions' Lilly Kee traded buckets to open the half, with the Lions Ally Weathers countering Thomas' layup with one of her own to cut the Blue Raider lead to 30-29 with 8:44 to play in the quarter. From 7:18 to 5:22, LWU went on a 7-0 run on a layup from Tisdale, a jumper from Hodges, and a three from Thomas to extend the lead to 37-29. Freed-Hardeman countered back with a 6-0 run of its own to cut the lead to 37-35 with 3:33 on the clock. Lindsey Wilson went on a 9-0 run to close the third quarter to lead 46-35 headed into the final ten minutes of action. 

An and-one play from Tisdale with 7:42 remaining put an end to FHU's 7-0 run to start the fourth quarter, pushing the Blue Raiders' lead back to 49-42. With 6:27 to play Fleming pulled a defensive board and hit Hodges in the open court for a layup, growing the lead to 51-42. From 3:50 to 3:03 FHU went on a 6-0 run to cut the Blue Raider lead to a one-possession game at 56-53. Taylor Guess stepped to the line for two with 2:41 on the clock, connecting on both and pushing the lead back out to 58-53. With 2:28 on the clock Freed-Hardeman's Rachel Satterly connected on two free throws, cutting it to a one-possession game again at 58-55. Tisdale answered back with an and-one 20 seconds later, pushing the lead to 61-55 with 2:08 left in regulation. FHU connected on a layup at 1:58 to cut the Blue Raider lead to 61-57, but was answered back by two free throws from Guess to grow the lead to 63-57. With 0:28 left in regulation, Satterly knocked down two free throws to make it a one-possession game at 66-63. With 0:20 on the clock, Guess went to the free throw line, knocking down both for a 68-63 game. Fleming was sent to the line with 0:10 left on the clock, connecting on both free throws, to give LWU the 70-63 victory.

Women's hoops will be back in action on Saturday at 1 P.M. CT in Biggers Sports Center against No.2-ranked Bethel (Tenn.).