Greeneville, Tenn. ? The Tusculum College Women?s Basketball Team (12-7, 5-4) jumped out to a huge second-half lead and was able to hold on and defeat Lenoir-Rhyne University (13-6, 6-3), 75-65, Monday evening in a South Atlantic Conference game at Pioneer Arena.

The Pioneers? Jasmine Gunn (Nashville, Tenn.) led all scorers with 18 points to go along with seven rebounds, five assists and five steals while Catherine Hintz (Hastings, Minn.) added 15 points and eight rebounds as Tusculum built a 27-point second-half lead twice (53-26 and 55-28) en route to the win.

Lenoir-Rhyne senior guard Brittany Mitch (McLean, Va.) tallied a double-double, 14 points and a career-high 16 rebounds, while senior guard Amber Holt (Charlotte, N.C.) added 14 points in the losing effort.

L-R, behind senior guard Jami Safrit (Hickory, N.C.) who scored all 11 of her points in the second half, cut the lead to seven at 69-62 with 1:19 left but couldn?t get any closer the rest of the way.

The Bears shot just 36 percent (24-of-66) from the field including 24 percent (six-of-25) from behind the three-point line in losing their second straight game.

Lenoir-Rhyne returns home to start a three-game home stand on Wednesday when it faces Brevard beginning at 6 p.m.? Tusculum plays Lincoln Memorial on the road Wednesday at 6 p.m., as well.