Aiken, S.C. -- The Lenoir-Rhyne Women's Basketball Team opened their season with a dominant win over USC-Aiken in the first game of the PBC/SAC Challenge. The Bears led by as many as 27 points in a wire-to-wire victory.
Blaikley Crooks led all scorers with 16 points, while
Emily Harman added 13 points on the afternoon.
GAME INFORMATION:
Final: Lenoir-Rhyne 70, USC-Aiken 52
Records: Lenoir-Rhyne (1-0), USC-Aiken (0-1)
Location: Aiken, S.C. | Convocation Center
STATS AND INFO:
- This is the 4th year of the PBC/SAC Challenge with these four teams. Carson-Newman will face off against Lander this afternoon.
- The Bears move to 3-1 against USC-Aiken during this challenge.
- LR moves to 2-1 in season openers under Coach Grahm Smith.
- Harman is now 37 points away from 700 career points
FIRST HALF:
- The Pacers actually scored the first point of the game, but a Maddie Dillinger layup with 6:58 left in the first quarter gave the Bears a 2-1 lead, a lead the Bears held on for the rest of the game.
- LR went on a 11-2 run after the Pacers' first point of the game.
- The Bears held USC-Aiken to just four field goals in the first and 17% shooting in the half.
- The Pacers did dominate the glass in the half, out rebounding the Bears 24-11 including 10 on the offensive glass.
SECOND HALF:
- The Bears opened a 20-point lead in the third quarter and stretched the lead to 27 in the middle of the 4th.
- Nine different players scored in the second half for the Bears, led by seven by Crooks and Harman.
- The Bears drilled 12 of 13 free-throws in the half and went 20-for-23 from the line in the game.
- The LR defense forced eight turnovers in the second half and 19 in the game.
NOTABLE PACERS:
- Jentri Worley lead the Pacers with 12 points while Emily Trushel and Hailey Unger added 11 points each.
- Annalise Malone had nine rebounds and Delaney Trushel added eight rebounds.
ABOUT THE BEARS:
- Crooks and Harman each added five rebounds to lead the Bears.
- Azariah Fields scored seven points including 5-for-5 from the free throw line in her Bears debut. She added four dimes as well.
- Megan Landsiedel had five steals to help the Bears to 24 points off turnovers.
UP NEXT: Bears will battle with Lander on day two of the PBC/SAC Challenge. Tip-off is at 1:00 PM.