Hickory, N.C.- The Lenoir-Rhyne Women's Basketball Team defeated No. 21 Wingate 85-81 in overtime to open their conference schedule. With the victory the Bears move to 5-0 for the first time since the start of the 2007 season. Brandi Hudson scored a season-high 23 points including seven points in the overtime period to lead the Bears while Emily Harman scored 21 as the Bears snap a six-game losing streak to Wingate. 

GAME INFORMATION:
Final:  Lenoir-Rhyne 85, No. 21 Wingate 81 (OT)
Records: Lenoir-Rhyne (5-0, 1-0 SAC) , Wingate (3-1, 0-1 SAC)
Location: Hickory, N.C. | Shuford Arena

STATS AND INFO:

• Both teams are in the Piedmont division as the SAC adopted division play starting this season. 
• LR snaps a six game losing streak against Wingate with tonight's overtime thriller. 
• Last win prior to tonight was on February 13, 2019 when the Bears won 66-62 in Hickory.
• Second straight overtime game in Hickory between these teams. Wingate survived the Bears 71-68 last November inside the Shu.
• Bears moved to 2-0 against ranked teams this season.

FIRST HALF:

• Bears jumped ahead early, leading by as many as nine in the first quarter. Harman had a dozen in the first quarter on 5-8 shooting. 
• Both teams shot well in the first quarter (LR-47.1%, Wingate-42.9%) but both teams struggled in the second quarter (LR-30.8%, Wingate-33.3%).
• LR defense came in forcing 26.3 turnovers a came forced eighteen turnovers in the half as the Bears scored 16 points off the Wingate's errors in the half.

SECOND HALF:

• After the Bears opened a 39-29 lead in the third quarter, the momentum switch as Wingate made their run. The Bulldogs went on a 18-7 run to take their first since early in the first quarter. 
• A Bryanna Troutman fast break layup at the horn give Wingate a three point lead after three quarters, which was their biggest lead of the game at the point. A lead Wingate will grow in the 4th quarter.
• Wingate shot 68.8% in their big third quarter while the Bears remained cold shooting after the break (35.3%).
• Bulldogs opened a nine point lead with 5:29 left before the Bears made a 12-2 run to regain the lead with 1:50 left. Back to back baskets by Crooks give the Bears a five point lead with :52 seconds left. Azariah Fields free-threw with :40 seconds give the Bears a six point and it looked the Bears were heading to a victory.
• However, Wingate cut the lead to two and after Harman split a pair of free throws with six seconds left Wingate tied it with a Lauren Sullivan three pointer that bounced high off the back of the rim and fell through to send us to overtime. 
• Hudson than took over in overtime as the senior had a block, rebound and a fast break layup to give the Bears the lead for good. Hudson scored seven of her game high 23 points in the extra period. Hudson went 2-3 from the floor and 3-4 from the charity strip including icing the game with :02 seconds left. 

NOTABLE BULLDOGS:

• Troutman, 2021-22 SAC player of the year, scored 17 points and nine rebounds before fouling out in overtime. 
• Emilly Hege lead Wingate with 20 points on 6-11 shooting including 6-6 from the free-throw line. 
• Laura Kozo (13) and Hannah Clark (11) were also in double figures for the Bulldogs. 

ABOUT THE BEARS:

• Hudson scored twenty plus points for the first team this season after doing it eight times last year. Hudson also hit 13-15 from the charity stripe. 
• Harman's 21 points were a season high. Harman added four rebounds, three assists and two steals. 
• Bears forced 32 turnovers in the game as five Bears had at least three steals lead by Megan Landsiedel's four. 
• Fields stuffed the box score as the grad transfer added 13 points, five assists, four rebounds, three steals, and two blocks for the Bears. 

UP NEXT: Bears will host Converse on Saturday. Tip-Off is at 2:00 PM from the Shu.