Salisbury, N.C. - The Catawba Women's Basketball Team (12-9, 8-5) used a strong second half to defeat Lenoir-Rhyne (14-7, 9-4), 59-49, Wednesday evening in a South Atlantic Conference game at Goodman Gymnasium as the Bears fell out of first place in the league standings.

Catawba's Antionette McPhail (Timmonsville, S.C.) finished with a game-high 21 points to go along with 11 rebounds as the Indians scored 40 of their 59 points after halftime en route to the win.

Quaneasia Coleman (Duluth, Ga.) added 14 points and six rebounds as Catawba avenged a loss to Lenoir-Rhyne earlier in the season.

L-R sophomore guard Jazmine Charles (Lexington, N.C.) scored a team-high 11 points but was the lone player to finish in double figures for the Bears, who shot just 35 percent (20-of-58) for the contest and are now one game behind Anderson in the league race.

Lenoir-Rhyne held a slim advantage at halftime, 21-19, but Catawba took control early in the second half en route to the win.

Catawba used a 13-2 run capped off by a jump shot by Coleman to take a 38-27 advantage at the 12:11 mark of the second half and stayed in front the rest of the way.

Lenoir-Rhyne cut the margin to three points at 40-37 on a trey by Charles with 7:16 left but Catawba responded with a 12-1 run to put the contest out of reach.

The Indians' Taylor May (China Grove, N.C.) added a double-double as well - 10 points and 11 rebounds - while junior forward Nneka Awuruonye (Charlotte, N.C.) scored nine points in the loss for the Bears.

Lenoir-Rhyne returns home to take on Brevard on Saturday at 4:00 p.m., in a South Atlantic Conference game while Catawba travels to Greeneville, Tenn., to face Tusculum Saturday beginning at 2:00 p.m.