Hickory, N.C. - The Lenoir-Rhyne Women's Basketball Team (12-3, 4-2) held on to defeat Brevard (5-9, 0-6), 69-66, Saturday in a South Atlantic Conference game at Shuford Memorial Gymnasium.? In the process, seventh-year Head Coach Todd Starkey became the winningest coach in school history with his 115th victory.
Sophomore guard Krystal Patton (Chilhowie, Va.) led the Bears with a career-high 19 points while junior guard Whitley Culler (Mount Airy, N.C.) added 17 points and eight rebounds as Lenoir-Rhyne improved its all-time mark against Brevard to 12-0.
Brevard's Lindsay Brendle (High Point, N.C.) paced all scorers with 20 points and Anna Schlobohm (Greensboro, N.C.) came off the bench to score 13 points despite the loss.
Brevard jumped out to a 23-12 lead midway through the first half on a three-point play by Micheala Watkins (Forest City, N.C.) but Lenoir-Rhyne roared back to take a 34-31 advantage entering halftime.
The Tornados wouldn't go away and started the second half on an 11-4 run and held a 42-38 advantage with 12:33 remaining in the contest.
The game, which had six ties and 11 lead changes, went back-and-forth the rest of the way before senior guard Cameron Sealey (Mount Holly, N.C.) gave L-R the lead for good with a lay-up at the 5:09 mark of the second half which made the score 56-55 in the Bears' favor.
Brevard tried to force overtime but a three-point attempt rimmed out as time ran out and Lenoir-Rhyne held on for the win.
The Bears?limited the Tornados to just 35 percent shooting (25-of-71) for the game and improved to 6-1 on the season at home.? L-R sophomore forward Whitney Brinkley (Asheville, N.C.) added a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds as well.
Starkey surpasses former mentor and 2010 L-R Hall Of Fame inductee Pat Smith.? Smith (1977-82) notched a 114-32 mark as Lenoir-Rhyne Head Women's Basketball Coach.
Lenoir-Rhyne hits the road to take on long-time rival Catawba while Brevard hosts Lincoln Memorial.? Both South Atlantic Conference games are set to begin at 6:00 p.m., on Wednesday.
