Hickory, N.C. ? The Lenoir-Rhyne University?Women's Basketball Team (11-9, 8-4) held off a late charge from Newberry College?(12-8, 7-5) to earn a 57-52 victory in its national television debut Saturday at Shuford Memorial Gymnasium.? The contest was broadcasted by CBS College Sports and took place in front of 2,450 fans.

Junior guard Cameron Sealey (Mount Holly, N.C.) led the Bears with 15 points and a?career-high?16 rebounds as she posted her second double-double of the season while sophomore guard Whitley Culler (Mount Airy, N.C.)?added 13 points in the victory for L-R.

Nerves were evident at the outset of the game as both teams struggled offensively out of the gate.? In the first half, Lenoir-Rhyne made just seven-of-25 field goals?(28 percent) while Newberry?connected?on just?eight-of-30 (27 percent) attempts?from the field.

With the score tied at 14, Culler?tallied seven points to lead L-R on a 9-4 run over the final 2:39 of the first half that gave the Bears a 22-18 halftime lead.

Lenoir-Rhyne took command in the second half and stretched its lead to as many as 10 points (35-25)?when Sealey finished a?lay-up with 11:12 left.?

Newberry kept it close?thanks to?the shooting of Helen McKinney (Owensboro, Ky.), who made three-of-six from beyond the arc in the second half and scored a game-high 16 points.

McKinney dropped in her last three-pointer with only 2:35 remaining in the game to cut the margin to four at 49-45?but fouled out under a minute later and the Wolves couldn't get any closer the rest of the way.

The Bears dominated underneath the basket, outscoring?the Wolves in the paint, 32-14, and holding a 50-32 advantage on the boards.

Lenoir-Rhyne, which swept the season series from Newberry, is now 21-1 in its last 22 South Atlantic Conference Regular Season games at home.? In addition, sixth-year Head Coach Todd Starkey picked up his 100th career coaching win - all as Bear mentor.

L-R will next face Wingate in a South Atlantic Conference?game on Wednesday.? Tip-off for the?contest is slated for 6:00 p.m., at Shuford Memorial Gymnasium.? Both teams are currently tied for second place in the league standings.? Newberry, meanwhile, returns home to face Anderson on Wednesday at 6 p.m.