Hickory, N.C. - The Tusculum College Women's Basketball Team (13-4, 7-2) remained tied for first place in the South Atlantic Conference standings after defeating Lenoir-Rhyne University (13-5, 5-4), 68-65, Wednesday evening at Shuford Memorial Gymnasium.

Kendal Baxter (Sevierville, Tenn.) and Jama Hammontree (Greenback, Tenn.) each scored 11 points to lead Tusculum, who won its sixth straight contest and stayed in a first-place tie with league-foe Catawba.

Three players scored in double figures for Lenoir-Rhyne, led by senior guard Cameron Sealey's (Mount Holly, N.C.) game-high 18 points, despite the loss.

Tusculum jumped out to a 19-6 advantage to start the game with Ashley Thurman's (Nashville, Tenn.) lay-up at the 13:43 mark of the first half.

However, the Bears reeled off the next 10 points to close the gap before Pioneers went into the break holding a 37-32 edge.

Lenoir-Rhyne kept the pressure on to start the second half and a 14-0 run gave the Bears their biggest lead of the contest at 48-41 on a lay-up by sophomore guard Danielle Bongiorno (Wilmington, N.C.) with 13:35 remaining in the game.

Tusculum quickly hit back-to-back three-pointers to close the margin to one and the two squads battled to take a 57-all tie with 3:46 left on a lay-up by L-R sophomore forward Whitney Brinkley (Asheville, N.C.).? Brinkley finished with seven points and nine rebounds.

The Pioneers took control from there with six straight points as Tusculum's Alishia Mosley (Cameron, N.C.) started the run with a lay-up that proved to be the game-winner.

Junior guard Whitley Culler (Mount Airy, N.C.) and freshman guard Jazmine Charles (Lexington, N.C.) added 11 and 10 points, respectively, for the Bears, who lost for the fifth consecutive time to the Pioneers.

In the next round of South Atlantic Conference games, Lenoir-Rhyne travels to Mars Hill while Tusculum visits Newberry.? Both contest are scheduled to start on Saturday at 2:00 p.m.