Newberry, S.C. – The Newberry Women's Basketball Team (15-8, 11-8) exploded out of the gates on its way to a 69-49 victory over Lenoir-Rhyne (15-10, 11-8) Wednesday evening in a South Atlantic Conference game at Eleazer Arena.

Five players scored in double figures for Newberry – led by Meg Essex (Glamorgan Vale, Qld, Australia) and Shelby Britten (Shepparton, Vic, Australia) with 16 points each – and the Wolves jumped out to a 46-13 halftime lead on their way to the easy victory.

Lenoir-Rhyne, which trailed by as many as 39 points at the end of the third period, was led by sophomore forward Madi Suddreth (Taylorsville, N.C.) with 16 points but was the lone player to score in double figures for the Bears.

Newberry shot 67 percent (16-of-24) in the first half while Lenoir-Rhyne hit just four-of-26 field goals (15 percent) before intermission.

Lenoir-Rhyne senior forward Brooke Robinson (Vale, N.C.) added eight points and 10 rebounds but the Bears suffered their second straight setback.

In the next slate of South Atlantic Conference games, Lenoir-Rhyne hosts Anderson in its annual Play 4Kay Day while Newberry plays Tusculum in Greeneville, Tenn.  Both games start at 2:00 p.m., on Saturday afternoon.