HICKORY, N.C. -  The Lenoir-Rhyne Women's Basketball team opened SAC play Wednesday night with a tough 71-68 lost to Wingate in overtime. Emily Harman finished with 18 points, seven rebounds and six assists but Wingate used an 8-2 run in last 1:18 of overtime to defeat the Bears. 

GAME INFORMATION:
Final: Wingate 71, Lenoir-Rhyne 68 (OT)
Records: Wingate (2-1, 1-0 SAC), Lenoir-Rhyne (1-2, 0-1 SAC)
Location: Shuford Gym

STATS AND INFO:

• LR is now 14-19 in SAC openers since they joined the SAC in the 1989-90 season.
• LR has actually lost six straight SAC openers.
• Wingate has now won five straight games in the season series with the Bears.
• LR is still stuck on 349 career wins inside Shuford Gym.
• This is the third straight season the Bears have had an overtime game inside Shuford. 

FIRST HALF:

• The Bears led throughout the first half. After a 2-2 tie early on, Wingate did not get back even with the Bears utnil a 20-20 tie early in the second quarter. The Bears went on a 11-5 run to regain the lead and took a three point lead into halftime.
• The Bears shot 52% from the field in the first half while the Bulldogs shot 34.4% from the field. The Bears were only 3-10 from long range in the half. 
• LR committed 13 turnovers in the half with Wingate getting 12 of their 28 points off turnovers. 
• Bears had seven different scorers in the half, led by Tilda Lindstrom with seven points.
• Eight blocks in the half was already season high as the Bears had five blocks against USC-Aiken in the season opener. 

SECOND HALF:

• The Bulldogs saw their first lead with 8:48 left in the fourth with a three pointer from Jaia Wilson to give Wingate the 47-44 lead. After the first basket of the game, tonight saw eight more ties and nine lead changes. The game remained a one possession game the rest of the way.
• LR took the a 57-56 lead with :52 seconds left but Wingate's Bryanna Troutman split a pair of free throws with 39 second to tie it up. Both teams had one more chance to win but Wingate forced a turnover with :13 seconds then Lauren Sullivan missed a three at the buzzer to send it into overtime. 
• In overtime, after a Harman layup gave the Bears a 66-63 lead with 1:18 left, Wingate used a 8-2 run to close out the Bears.

ABOUT THE BEARS:

• Harman lead the Bears with 18 points, Brandi Hudson (15) and Maddie Dillinger (13) joined Harman in double figures. 
• Bears finished with 15 blocks on the night. Maddie Dillinger had four and Blaikley Crooks had three for the Bears.
• LR shot 90% from the free-three line (9-10)
• Four Bears had at least six rebounds with Harman leading with seven.  

NOTABLE BULLDOGS:

• Bryana Troutman had a game-high 26 points with 17 coming in the second half and overtime. 
• Haleigh Brandon finished with 9 points on 3-4 from long range. Brandon added five rebounds on the night.
• Bulldogs scored between 13-15 points in each quarter including 14 points in the five minute overtime. 

UP NEXT:  Before returning to SAC play next Tuesday November 23 at Coker, LR will travel to Radford (11/19) and UNC-Greensboro (11/21) to play a pair of exhibition games.