Hickory, N.C. ? The Lenoir-Rhyne Women?s Basketball Team (15-6, 8-3) outlasted Newberry (15-6, 8-3), 69-57, on Saturday afternoon in Shuford Gymnasium.? The win gives L-R a share of first place in the South Atlantic Conference standings and marks the 14th straight league regular season win at home.

Senior guard Amber Holt (Charlotte, N.C.) led L-R with a game-high 21 points to go along with five assists.? Meanwhile, freshman forward Precious Elkins (Conyers, Ga.) posted a double-double as she scored 13 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in the victory for the Bears.

In addition, junior guard LaCourtney Rann (Charlotte, N.C.) helped out with 11 points while senior guard Brittany Mitch (McLean, Va.) added 10 points in the victory for the Bears.? Finally, L-R senior guard Jami Safrit (Hickory, N.C.) chipped in with seven points and nine rebounds.

Newberry was led by Helen McKinney (Owensboro, Ky.), who scored 15 points, while Anita Bulcher (Russia, Ohio) added a double-double with 12 points and 10 boards despite the loss for the Scarlet and Gray.

The action was back and forth during the opening minutes as the game was tied for the fourth time at 10-10 with 11:33 remaining in the first half.

L-R then opened up an 11-point lead with a 15-4 run over the next 4:40 to take a 25-14 lead with 6:45 left in the first half.
Newberry dug in to cut the halftime deficit to just four points as Jessica Bearzatto (Melbourne, AUSTRALIA) knocked down a trey to make it 32-28 heading into the break.

The Bears widened the gap again in the second half, extending their lead to as many as 20 when Elkins finished a lay-up underneath the Newberry basket to make it 60-40 at the 9:37 mark.

Newberry made it difficult again as it climbed back into the game by trimming L-R?s lead to just five points at 62-57 with 3:25 remaining in the contest on two free throws by Leanne Watson (Stone Mountain, Ga.).

L-R, 8-0 at home this season, forced three late turnovers from Newberry and held on for the 12-point victory.

The Bears shot 46 percent (26-of-57) from the field for the game compared to just 32 percent (18-of-56) by the Scarlet and Gray.

L-R will continue its home stand on Wednesday as it faces off against No. 18 Carson Newman with tip-off slated for 6:00 p.m., in Shuford Memorial Gymnasium.? Newberry will host Catawba College at 6:00 p.m., on Wednesday.