Hickory, N.C. - The Lenoir-Rhyne Women's Basketball Team (5-2, 1-0) opened South Atlantic Conference competition on Saturday afternoon with a 72-59 victory over Carson-Newman (6-2, 1-1) at Shuford Memorial Gymnasium.

L-R junior guard Alexis Katt (Euharlee, Ga.) finished with a team-high 13 points while junior forward Kierra Phillips (Gaffney, S.C.) added 12 points to lead the Bears to the victory.

Carson-Newman, which saw its six-game winning streak snapped, was led by Tatum Burstrom's (Maryville, Tenn.) game-high 16 points despite the loss.

Burstrom connected on four three-pointers while Lashawnda Peacher (Springfield, Tenn.) added 13 points off the bench in the setback.

Lenoir-Rhyne held a 36-27 advantage at the break and pushed its margin to 14 points at 44-30 with 16:59 remaining on a lay-up by Phillips.

Carson-Newman slowly came back and cut the margin to 59-55 on a free throw by Burstrom at the 3:46 mark of the second half but Lenoir-Rhyne responded with an 11-0 run to put the game out of reach.

L-R senior guard Caroline Laughter (Hickory, N.C.), who finished with seven points, six rebounds and five assists, capped off the run with a free throw.

The Bears limited the Eagles to just 30 percent (18-of-60) shooting for the contest while improving to 2-0 at home this year.

Lenoir-Rhyne faces Winston-Salem State in Winston-Salem, N.C., on Monday night at 6:00 p.m., in its next contest.? Carson-Newman, meanwhile, plays Virginia Intermont on Sunday, December 30, at home beginning at 6:00 p.m., at the Hold Fieldhouse in Jefferson City, Tenn.