MOUNT VERNON, Ga. - The Lady Barons Basketball team started their 2024-25 campaign with a road trip to Florida, taking on Southeastern Fire in their first game of the year. The Lady Barons put up a tough fight but came up short, losing 89-85 to the Fire in the season opener. The Lady Barons shot 54.5% from the field on the day and 63% from the charity stripe. Destanee Wright led the Lady Barons in points with 24, nine rebounds, and four assists. Angel McRae led the team with nine rebounds. 

Head Coach Steve Edwards shared his thoughts on how his team started the season. "Tonight was a really good test for our team early. It's always tough to play on the road. Southeastern was picked to win their league, and they are very well-coached. 

The game came down to a few possessions, and we had a few chances to win. Today, two tournament teams were playing, and I am excited to continue to coach this young group. We will get better, and we will be a tough outcome tournament time,"

First Quarter 

The Lady Barons started the game, taking the first quarter 19-13, shooting 53.8% from the field and an impressive 50% from beyond the arc. The Lady Barons were led in three-point shooting by Sydney Beasley, going two for two, and Destanee Wright grabbed four boards to lead the Lady Barons in the first quarter. The first quarter saw the Fire struggle from the field, shooting 33.3% from the field and only 28.6% from beyond the arc, scoring only 13 points and allowing the Lady Barons to take an early lead.

Second Quarter

The Lady Barons got better shooting from the field in the second quarter, shooting 60%, but struggled from three, dropping to 33.3% in the second quarter. The Lady Barons grabbed ten boards in the second and had four assists on 26 points as a team. The Fire found their stride in the second, shooting an impressive 87.5% from three, going 7-8, and 80% from the free throw line. The Fire scored 31 points and had only three rebounds but went into half only down one, trailing the Lady Barons 45-44 at the break.  

Third Quarter

The Lady Barons struggled in the third, going 0-2 beyond the arc and shooting only 46.2% from the field. The Lady Barons finished the third quarter with eight rebounds, three assists, and 18 points. The Fire cooled off slightly in the third, but not enough for the Lady Barons to maintain their lead. The Fire shot 42.9% from the field and went 2-4 from beyond the arc, scoring 22 points and having six boards for the quarter.

Fourth Quarter 

The Lady Barons kept the fourth quarter close, scoring 22 points with ten rebounds, shooting 57.1% from the field, and going 2-5 from three in the fourth quarter. The Fire kept pace, shooting 50% from the field, and went 2-5 from three. The Fire scored 23 points with four rebounds and five assists in the fourth.

Stats

• The Lady Barons led in field goals, shooting 54.5% compared to the Fire's 48.3%.

• The Lady Barons trailed in three-point shooting, going 8-21 compared to the Fire's 13-24.

• The Lady Barons led in rebounds 37-27.

• The Lady Barons trailed in assists 17-14.

• The Lady Barons trailed in free throw, shooting only 63% from the line compared to the Fire's 76.9%.

Next Up

The Lady Barons look to bound back tonight against Webber International University.

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