Hickory, N.C. ? The No. 23 Lenoir-Rhyne University Women?s Basketball Team (4-1, 1-0) opened South Atlantic Conference play by knocking off Catawba College (3-3, 0-1), 87-66, on Wednesday evening at Shuford Memorial Gymnasium.

Senior guard Brittany Mitch (McLean, Va.) led the Bears to their fourth straight victory with 21 points, nine rebounds and six assists while junior guard LaCourtney Rann (Charlotte, N.C.) added 16 points and six assists for L-R in the win.

Dana Hicks (York, S.C.) led Catawba by posting a double-double with 23 points and 12 rebounds while Nisha Long (Dallas, N.C.) added 12 points and Kisha Long (Dallas, N.C.) finished with 10 despite the loss for the Indians.

L-R trailed only once by a 2-0 margin just 25 seconds into the game.? Senior guard Amber Holt (Charlotte, N.C.) scored 12 of her 13 points in the first half to?help the Bears take a 48-28 lead heading into the break.

The Bears stretched their lead out to a game-high 25-points at 55-30?with 15:41 remaining in the second half.?

Catawba chipped away to get within 11 points at 57-46?with 6:55 left on the clock but L-R never slowed down offensively the rest of the way.

L-R made 33-of-56 (59 percent) shots on night from the field and knocked down nine treys en route to the win.?

Catawba shot just 58.6 percent (17-of-29) from the free throw line for the contest.

Lenoir-Rhyne?will try to avenge its lone loss of the year as they take on Georgia College and State University on Saturday with tip-off set for 6:00 p.m., at Shuford Memorial Gymnasium.? Catawba returns home to face Livingstone on Saturday at 2 p.m.