Hickory, N.C. - The Anderson Women's Basketball Team (14-5, 8-1) took over sole possession of first place in the South Atlantic Conference after downing Lenoir-Rhyne (12-5, 7-2), 48-46, in a key league showdown Wednesday evening at Shuford Memorial Gymnasium.

Alissa Diaz (Coral Springs, Fla.) led the way with 17 points and 11 rebounds as the Trojans won their seventh straight game.

L-R junior guard Krystal Patton (Chilhowie, Va.) came off the bench to score a team-high nine points while junior forward Nneka Awuruonye (Charlotte, N.C.) added seven points and 12 rebounds in the setback.

Anderson, which avenged an earlier loss to Lenoir-Rhyne, limited the Bears to just 22 percent shooting (13-of-59) for the game.

The Trojans jumped out to a 31-15 halftime lead but the Bears began to slowly close the gap in the second half and tied the contest with a minute left.

After L-R junior forward Whitney Brinkley (Asheville, N.C.) hit a free throw to forge a tie at 44-44, Diaz responded with a pair of from the charity stripe with 40 seconds remaining in regulation to give Anderson the lead for good.

The Bears, trailing by a 48-46 score, had a chance to tie but missed two shots as time ran out and the Trojans were able to hold on for the win.

Lenoir-Rhyne limited Anderson to just 35 percent shooting (18-of-52) and held the Trojans without a field goal for close to nine minutes in the second half despite the loss.

Lenoir-Rhyne remains at home to face Newberry in a league contest on Saturday beginning at 4:00 p.m., while Anderson hosts Mars Hill Saturday at 2:00 p.m.