HICKORY, N.C. – The Lenoir-Rhyne Women's Basketball Team used stifling defense and strong performances from its top scoring trio to put away the Newberry Wolves on Wednesday, 69-51, advancing the No. 4-seeded Bears to the semifinal round of the South Atlantic Conference tournament.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: Lenoir-Rhyne 69, Newberry 51
Records: Lenoir-Rhyne (17-12), Newberry (16-12)
Location: Shuford Gymnasium | Hickory, N.C.
STATS OF THE GAME:
• Lenoir-Rhyne had four players score in double digits, led by
Kendall Toineeta in what is her last game in Shuford Gymnasium. The senior led all players with 22 points with five assists, four steals and was a perfect 6-for-6 at the free throw line.
Madeline Hardy put up a double-double with 10 points and a game-leading 14 boards.
Madi Suddreth and
Karlie Bearden wrapped up scorers in double figures in scoring with 13 and 10 respectively.
• The Wolves were held to 31.1 percent from the floor for the game and just two players were in double figures for the game, Meg Essex and Shelby Britten with 11 each. Newberry had three players with seven or more rebounds.
• Lenoir-Rhyne made 41.5 percent of its shot attempts and was a perfect 10-for-10 from the charity stripe. The Bears outscored the visiting team in points in the paint (22-16) and points off turnovers (19-9).
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:
• Lenoir-Rhyne won their first SAC Quarterfinal game since 2015 when the Bears as the seven seed defeated Wingate, the two seed, 80-69. This also marks the first time both the Lenoir-Rhyne Men's and Women's Basketball Teams advanced to the conference semifinal round since 2009.
• Hardy managed to record her fifth double-double of the season and her 14 rebounds ties her season-high.
• Bearden put up her fifth double-digit scoring effort of the season after 10 points on 5-of-6 shooting.
• With the win, the Bears have won two of three against Newberry for the season.
UP NEXT:
The Bears will make their semifinal appearance in the SAC Tournament on Saturday, March 9 at noon as they tipoff against the Anderson Trojans.
