Amateur Team of the Year
The Freed-Hardeman University Women’s Basketball team put together a historic run during the 2017-18 season. The team posted an impressive 34-4 season record on their way to the school’s first-ever NAIA National Championship with a 76-64 win over Westmont College.
In the National Championship game, Kim Mallory, Sandrea Sylman and Carrie Hatchel led the way for FHU. The trio combined for 69 of FHU’s 76 points in the match-up. The ending to the 2017-18 season was fitting, as FHU Women’s Basketball Coach Dale Neal was also named a 2018 NAIA Hall of Fame Inductee prior to the start of the National Tournament. Following the National Championship game, senior Kim Mallory was named Tournament MVP while FHU Head Coach Neal was named NAIA Coach of the Year. Recently, the Lady Lions made a trip to Nashville, Tenn. where they were honored at the State Capitol by Governor Bill Haslam. Freed-Hardeman University is a private, liberal arts university affiliated with the Churches of Christ and is located in Henderson, Tennessee.