Hickory, N.C. ? The Lenoir-Rhyne Women?s Basketball Team (16-6, 9-3) took down No. 21 Carson-Newman (18-4, 7-4), 85-76, Wednesday night in Shuford Memorial Gymnasium.? Senior guard Brittany Mitch (McLean, Va.) scored a game-high 20 points as the Bears completed the regular season sweep of the Lady Eagles.
Senior guard Amber Holt (Charlotte, N.C.) chipped in with 17 points and eight rebounds while junior guard LaCourtney Rann (Charlotte, N.C.) put up 14 points to help the Bears to their third straight win?and a 9-0 mark at home?on the season.
Sophomore guard Cameron Sealey (Gastonia, N.C.) came off the bench to score 11 points en route to the Bears' 15th straight South Atlantic Conference Regular Season victory at Shuford Memorial Gymnasium.
Both teams struggled to gain the upper hand over the majority of the first half as there were four lead changes and three ties.? With 9:44 remaining in the opening frame, L-R went up 20-19 when senior point guard Jami Safrit (Hickory, N.C.) knocked down a jumper from 10 feet.
The Bears outscored the Lady Eagles, 20-12, over the next 9:15 capped off when Sealey hit a?lay-up to send her team into the break with?a 40-31 advantage.
L-R opened the second half ablaze, stretching its lead out to as many as 15 points at 54-39 on a three-pointer by Rann with 15:07 remaining in the game.?
Carson-Newman fought back and cut its deficit to just three points when Mandy Mendenhall (Kingston Springs, Tenn.) drained a jumper following an L-R turnover with 3:28 remaining.? The Bears then made eight-of-10 free throws over the next three minutes to seal the nine-point triumph.
Carson-Newman was led by Shari Buford's (Hampton, Ga.) double-double as she scored 18 points to go along with a game-high 11 rebounds.? Ashley Kyle (Jefferson City, Tenn.) tallied 19 points while Mendenhall added 14 points despite the loss for the Lady Eagles.
Lenoir-Rhyne continues league play on Saturday as they head to Harrogate, Tenn., to face Lincoln Memorial at 6:00 p.m.? Carson-Newman will play host to Tusculum in another South Atlantic Conference battle, also slated for Saturday at 6:00 p.m.
