MAYFIELD, Ky. - The Mid-Continent University women's basketball team knew entering play on Saturday afternoon that they would have their hands full with the NAIA's second-ranked team - the Freed-Hardeman University Lady Lions. To compound matters, the Mid-Continent team struggled out of the gate and the Lady Lions put the game away early.

Mid-Continent (5-15, 0-3) scored the first basket of the game, then they watched as Freed-Hardeman (20-1, 3-0) scored the next 14 points to take control of the game en route to the 93-50 win.

After Stephanie Malone put the Cougars on top 2-0, it seemed as though a lid was put on the rim at the Mid-Continent end of the floor, while Freed-Hardeman scored with relative ease. A pair of 14-0 runs saw Freed-Hardeman take a 32-6 lead, another 11-0 spurt pushed the lead to 45-11, and at the intermission, the Lady Lions led 51-16. The second half was more even, as the Cougars stayed within seven of Freed-Hardeman Lady Lions, but the damage had been done prior to the intermission. Despite a good second half effort, the Cougars could make no headway, and the Lady Lions took the win 93-50.

Malone tallied a game-high 22 points, and Lindsey Woody added 18 in the loss. Malone's 13 rebounds were also a game-high, and the totals were good enough for her 12th double-double of the season. As a team, Mid-Continent made 17-of-57 (29.8%) attempts from the field, and 4-of-23 (17.4%) from long distance. At the foul line, Mid-Continent posted a 12-for-24 (50%) effort.

The Cougars will step out of TranSouth play on Monday night, heading to Belleville, Ill. to take on the Lady Lynx of Lindenwood University-Belleville (12-11) at 7:30 p.m.