Hickory, N.C. - The Carson-Newman Women's Basketball Team (17-10) prevailed in overtime over Lenoir-Rhyne (19-9), 82-75, Wednesday in the?First Round of the 2012 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Tournament at Shuford Gymnasium.? The Eagles are the?No. 5?seed and the Bears were seeded fourth.

Carson-Newman, which forced overtime tied at 66 on a three-pointer by Shannon Depew (Newport, Tenn.) with 1.1 seconds remaining, will face top-seeded Wingate in the semifinals on Saturday at Catawba Valley Community College beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Depew and Zoriah Williams (Calera, Ala.) each scored 21 points while Depew hit five three-pointers as the Eagles defeated the Bears in the first round of the tournament on the road for the second straight year.

Lenoir-Rhyne lost despite a game-high 24 points from senior guard Cameron Sealey (Mount Holly, N.C.) and 17 points from junior guard Whitley Culler (Mount Airy, N.C.).

A lay-up by Sealey tied?gave the Bears a 70-68 advantage?with 3:40 left in overtime but the Eagles responded with a 12-2 run to put the contest out of reach and move on to the semifinals.

Carson-Newman also shot 56 percent (10-of-18) from behind the three-point line and 54 percent (31-of-58) for the game in avenging two earlier losses to Lenoir-Rhyne during the regular season.? The Eagles also received 15 points to go along with three treys and six assists from Megan Hunter (Ashland City, Tenn.).

L-R also received 10 points off the bench from freshman guard Jazmine Charles (Lexington, N.C.) but the Bears could not hit the 20-win mark for the third time in the past four seasons.

Lenoir-Rhyne, which lost its third straight game, now must wait and see if it earns a berth to the NCAA Division II Playoffs.? The Bears will found out Sunday night.