Wilmington, N.C.-- The Lenoir-Rhyne Women's Basketball Team got 20 points from Blaikley Crooks and a dozen from Azariah Fields as the Bears took down D1 UNC WIlmington 57-46 in exhibition play. It was the first time the Seahawks have lost a home opener since the 2013 season. The Bears will now open their 2022-23 season this weekend in the PBC/SAC Crossover at USC Aiken. 

GAME INFORMATION:
Final:  Lenoir-Rhyne 57, UNC Wilmington 46
Records: Lenoir-Rhyne (0-0), UNC Wilmington (0-1)
Location: Wilmington, N.C. | Trask Coliseum

STATS AND INFO:

• Even through it was an exhibition game for the Bears, the game is an official game in the standings for UNC Wilmington. 
• The Seahawks dropped their season opener for the first time since the 2019 opener at Wake Forest. 
• Bears played the Seahawks in an exhibition game right before the Seahawks fell to Wake Forest to open the 2019 season. 

FIRST HALF:

• The host took an early 5-0 lead in the first ninety seconds of the game which ended up being their biggest lead of the day.
• Hannah Stull scored halfway through the first quarter to give the Bears an 8-7 lead, a lead the Bears held on for the rest of the game. 
• Crooks and Emily Harman added baskets at the end of the first ten minutes to give the Bears a five point lead after one quarter. 
• After the Seahawks cut the lead to two with 5:39 left to play in the first half, LR went on a 12-2 to run to close the half and stretch the lead to a dozen at intermission. 
• Crooks had nine in the first quarter and eight in the second quarter as she lead all scorers with 17 at the break. 

SECOND HALF:

• Both teams came out flat in the third quarter as they combined to shoot 7-26 combined from the floor. The Bears held their lead heading into the 4th quarter. 
• Stull and Maddie Dillinger had a pair of baskets in the quarter. 
• Seahawks cut the lead to single digits a few times in the final period but the Bears hit six of nine from the charity stripe in the quarter to ice the game. 
• LR defense held the Seahawks to 27% shooting from the floor and forced 16 turnovers on the night. 

ABOUT THE BEARS:

• Crooks finished with 20 points on 7 from 16 shooting while adding four rebounds while Fields joined Crooks in double figures with 12 points and four assists.
• Harman added a game high 14 rebounds while Dillinger had eight. 
• Dillinger had six of the Bears eleven bench points on the evening. 

UP NEXT: Bears will open the 2022-23 season in the PBC/SAC Crossover. Bears will play hosts USC Aiken Saturday at 1:00 PM