SALISBURY, N.C. - After the first 110 minutes went scoreless, the opening round NCAA Tournament game between rivals Lenoir-Rhyne and Catawba went to penalty kicks. The Bears prevailed 3-1 in the penalty kicks and handed the Indians their first loss of the season. Lenoir-Rhyne moves on to the second round where they will get a rematch with Queens, the team that defeated the Bears in the semifinals of the SAC Tournament. 

"Just so proud of the girls," head coach Gary Higgins said. "To be able to battle and defend like their lives depended on it for 110 minutes was just an amazing performance. And credit to coach Carlos Rubio for getting Grayson (Cameron) prepared for the penalty kicks. We knew she was going to come through for us. Just an unbelievable win."

INSIDE THE MATCHUP

Final: Lenoir-Rhyne 0, No. 10 Catawba 0 (LR advances 3-1 on penalty kicks)
Records: Lenoir-Rhyne (11-5-3), Catawba (18-0-3)
Location: Salisbury, N.C. | Catawba College

STATS OF THE MATCH

• In the penalty kicks, Madi Kyle, Stephanie Figueiredo and Kate Casey all were successful for the Bears. SAC Offensive Player of the Hannah Dunn scored the only goal for Catawba, and Grayson Cameron stopped All-Conference players Katie Beck, Sydney Jimmo and Helen Summerell to secure the win for the Bears. 
• Ten Bears played all 110 minutes of the match.
• This was the fourth double overtime game of the year for LR. 
• Both teams had multiple chances late in the game, but the defenses and goalkeepers held out to force the game to PKs. 
• The Bears were only able to muster eight total shots, and five on goal. The Indians had 16 shots and five shots on goal, all of which Cameron stopped. 
• Catawba had the edge in corners, 3-2. 

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• This was the first ever meeting in the NCAA Tournament for these two long time rivals. 
• The game was also the first win in the NCAA Tournament for the Bears since 2014 when they defeated North Georgia on PKs. 
• Head coach Gary Higgins wins his first NCAA Tournament game as head coach of the Bears in his third appearance.
• Cameron recorded her seventh clean sheet of the season.
• This is the second straight season the Bears defeated the Indians in the postseason. LR defeated Catawba 1-0 in the SAC Tournament seminfials last season.

UP NEXT: The Bears get a rematch with Queens on Sunday at Catawba. The two have split the first two meetings of the season, with each side winning 1-0. 2 p.m. kickoff in Salisbury.