Jefferson City, Tenn. - The Lenoir-Rhyne Women's Basketball Team (1-0) opened the 2013-14 season with an 87-68 victory over Barton (0-1) Saturday evening at the SAC/Conference Carolinas Challenge at the Holt Fieldhouse.

L-R junior guard Jenni Gust (Colfax, Wis.) led all scorers with 23 points and was one of four players to score in double figures for the Bears in the win.

Freshman forward Morgan Cooper (Virginia Beach, Va.) came off the bench to register 15 points as the Bears raced to a 50-35 halftime advantage en route to the win.

Barton was led by Brianna Thomas (Tampa, Fla.) with 19 points and 12 rebounds while Nyeshea Willie (Virginia Beach, Va.) scored 16 points in the losing effort.

Lenoir-Rhyne junior guard Jazmine Charles (Lexington, N.C.), last year's leading scorer and a first-team all-league pick, also added 13 points off as the Bears kept their lead above double digits throughout the second half.

Lenoir-Rhyne also connected on 31-of-40 free throw attempts in the game and used a 16-3 run late in the first half to take control of the contest.

On the second day of the challenge on Sunday afternoon, Lenoir-Rhyne faces Lees-McRae at 1:00 p.m., while Barton plays the host school, Carson-Newman, beginning at 3:00 p.m.