TEXARKANA, Texas — Bethel defeated LSU Shreveport 66-52 on Saturday in game one of the Eagle Classic hosted by Texas A&M Texarkana. The Threshers used a 10-0 run spanning the first and second quarters to move from a 15-13 deficit to a 23-15 lead.
The Threshers forced 10 LSU Shreveport turnovers and turned them into 12 points, using nine steals to offset a 9-4 rebounding deficit in the first quarter. LSU Shreveport scored 10 of its 15 points at the free-throw line, but Bethel assisted on all seven made field goals and took a 17-15 lead on
Karlee Locke's layup at the buzzer.
In the second quarter, Bethel outscored LSU Shreveport 21-8, shooting 7 of 15 while holding the visitors to 2 of 17 from the field and 0 of 7 from 3-point range. A 9-0 Threshers run from 8:09 to 5:40 moved the score from 23-16 to 32-16, and Bethel carried a 38-23 lead into halftime.
Bethel and LSU Shreveport each scored 15 points in the third quarter, leaving the Threshers ahead 53-38 entering the fourth. Bethel went 6 of 12 from the floor with four assists and a 9-6 rebounding edge, while LSU Shreveport shot 4 of 15 but recorded six steals, forced six turnovers and scored nine points off turnovers.
LSU Shreveport outscored Bethel 14-13 in the fourth quarter, shooting 6 of 12 and scoring 12 points in the paint, but the Threshers closed out a 66-52 win.
Kendall Locke accounted for 11 of Bethel's 13 points in the quarter, and the teams each committed nine turnovers as Bethel finished the segment with six steals.
Kendall Locke scored 26 points, went 9 of 11 at the free-throw line, and added eight steals, seven rebounds and six assists.
Karlee Locke finished with 22 points, eight rebounds, four 3-pointers, four steals, four assists and three blocks.
Charlize Cash recorded seven rebounds and four assists.
Madyson McKinzie tallied three steals and four rebounds.
Up next, the Threshers take on the host Texas A&M Texarkana on Sunday, Oct. 25, at noon.
