Hickory, N.C. ? The No. 24 Lenoir-Rhyne Women?s Basketball Team (19-6, 12-3) outlasted Wingate (14-12, 7-8), 59-58, on Wednesday in Shuford Gymnasium on Senior Night to clinch at least a share of the 2009-10 South Atlantic Conference Regular Season Crown and remain unbeaten at home (10-0) this year.
Senior guard Brittany Mitch (McClean, Va.) put up a team-high 10 points and grabbed seven rebounds to help the Bears to their sixth straight victory.? Senior point guard Jami Safrit (Hickory, N.C.) scored five points to go along with eight assists and seven rebounds in the final regular season home game of her L-R career.
The Bears started five seniors for the first time this season and jumped out to an early 5-0 lead on a break-away lay-up from senior forward Kristen Fulmer (Bradenton, Fla.) at the 19:15 mark in the first half.? Wingate responded and battled back to tie the game at 11 when Gladney Brown (High Point, N.C.) knocked down a trey with 14:51 remaining in the first half.
L-R took a 27-23 advantage into halftime after junior guard LaCourtney Rann (Charlotte, N.C.) finished a lay-up with just 26 seconds remaining in the first period that was highlighted by four ties and two lead changes.
After the break, the Bears jumped out to an eight-point lead at 31-23 on another Rann lay-up with 19:08 to go in the game.? The Bulldogs fought back again to tie the game at 36 with 15:01 remaining when Britney Mitchell (Indian Trail, N.C.) put away a fast-break lay-up.
L-R then went on a 14-4 run capped by a 12-foot jumper from senior center Denise Moore (Newport News, Va.) to stretch the Bears? lead to 50-40 with 10:29 to play in the contest.? But Wingate would not go silently as the Bulldogs closed to within one point at 59-58 on a jump shot from Kurie Washington (Marion, N.C.) with 41 seconds to play.
The Bears made two defensive stops to hold on for the win and earn their second straight regular season league championship and third in school history.? Stacie Rhodes' (Knightdale, N.C.) jumper as time expired rimmed out for the Bulldogs.
Washington led Wingate with 19 points while CC Brooks (Mount Holly, N.C.) scored 12 points for the Bulldogs despite the loss.?
Lenoir-Rhyne also won its 16th straight South Atlantic Conference Regular Season Game at Shuford Memorial Gymnasium.
L-R will head to Mars Hill on Saturday to play in its South Atlantic Conference regular season finale on Saturday at 2 p.m., while Wingate returns home to face Carson-Newman on Saturday at 2 p.m., as well.
