Hickory, N.C.-- Returning to the court for the first time since December 20, the Lenoir-Rhyne Women's Basketball fell 72-70 to the visiting UVA-Wise. Emily Harman's jumper and Hannah Stull's putback attempt in the final seconds just missed as the Bears attempted to send the game into overtime. Brandi Hudson scored a career-high 27 points for the Bears in the loss. 

GAME INFORMATION:

Final: UVA-Wise 72, Lenoir-Rhyne 70
Records: UVA-Wise (4-11, 4-8) I Lenoir-Rhyne (4-7, 3-6 SAC) 
Location: Hickory, N.C. | Shuford Gymnasium

STATS AND INFO:

• It has been 23 days since the Bears last took the court in a 73-61 win over Newberry before tonight's contest. 
• Today was just the fifth all-time meeting between these teams. The Bears won the series in 2020 and the Cavaliers swept the series last year. 
• Both of these teams came into the game even in a lot of statistical categories. The teams entered today shooting 40% from the floor, averaging 26 rebounds a game and committing 19 turnovers a game. Wise averages 64.8 points per game while the Bears averaged 62.3. 
• The win was the Cavaliers' first road win of the season. UVA-Wise was 0-7 away from home. 

FIRST HALF:

• As excepted with the long layoff, the Bears came out shooting cold from the floor. LR shot 5 for 20 (25%) in the first quarter as the Cavaliers opened a nine-point lead after one. Blaikley Crooks and Wise's Kalee Johnson each had eight after the first ten minutes of action.
• Bears did come out hot in the second quarter with  a 9-2 run in the first 4:53 to tie the game at 24 and took their first and only lead of the night at 29-28. The Cavs then went on a 7-2 run to close the half with a five-point advantage. 
• Hudson and Stull had six apiece for the Bears in the second quarter. 

SECOND HALF:

• Wise came out in the second half and shot 66% in the third quarter from the floor to open a double-digit lead heading into the fourth. 
• The Cavaliers had a 66-55 lead with 7:01 left when the Bears made their run. LR went on a 12-2 spurt to get to 68-67 with 2:33 left but that would be the closest they would get. 
• After a Hudson layup with 1:03 left to cut the lead to 72-69, the Bears went 1-4 from the free throw line to get it within a basket at 72-70. 
• LR had a chance at the end after a Crooks steal with :23 seconds left gave Harman a jumper but it rimmed out and a putback attempt by Stull missed as the buzzer sound. 

ABOUT THE BEARS:

• 27 points were a career-high for Hudson, who reached the 20 point mark for the first time in her career. Hudson's previous high was18 ,which she did twice this year. 
• Stull, making her LR debut, scored 13 points while adding four steals and three assists on the night.
• Harman added 12 points, eight rebounds, three assists while playing all 40 minutes on the night. 

NOTABLE CAVALIERS:

• Meg Crawford led the Cavaliers with 20 points on 10-16 shooting including 18 points in the second half.
• Nia Vanzant (15), Katlin Burger (12) and Johnson (10) all reached double figures for Wise.
• Caitlyn Ross had a game-high 11 rebounds. 

UP NEXT:  Bears will host Carson-Newman on Saturday with a 2:00 tipoff inside the Shu.