Jefferson City, Tenn.-- Down 11 points heading into the final period, the Lenoir-Rhyne Women's Basketball team stormed back to send the game into overtime. However, the Bears fell short as USC Aiken defeated the Bears 74-70 to open the 2023-24 season.
Emily Harman had a game-high 23 points and added nine rebounds in the contest. The Bears will return to the court tomorrow to conclude the SAC/PBC Challenge as LR will face Lander.
GAME INFORMATION:
Final: USC Aiken 74, Lenoir-Rhyne 70
Records: USC Aiken (1-0) , Lenoir-Rhyne (0-1)
Location: Jefferson City, Tenn. | Holt Fieldhouse
STATS AND INFO:
- Carson-Newman is hosting this weekend's PBC/SAC Challenge. The Eagles defeated Lander earlier this evening.
- After losing the 9 of the first 10 games in the series, the Bears had won three in a row before falling tonight.
- Harman has 33 points in two games and Blaikley Crooks scored 29 points in two games vs Aiken
- Today was the 1,415th all-time game for the program as the Bears opened the 62nd season.
- Bears are now 33-28-1 in season openers.
- The Bears only had one overtime game last year.
FIRST HALF:
- The Pacers stormed out to an early 8-0 lead in the first 2:35 of the contest before the Bears went on a 15-5 run to take their only lead of the half at 15-13.
- After a Jalen Gathers layup to start the second quarter tied it at 19 all, USC Aiken went on their second 8-0 run to take a 27-19 lead with 7:39 left in the first half. Gathers' layup to start the quarter and a Harman jumper with 2:35 left in the half were the Bears only FG's of the second quarter as the LR was held to 10 points. The Bears were 6-6 from the free throw line in each of the first two quarters.
- USC-Aiken took a 38-27 lead into the break as the Pacers shot 43.2% from the field, while the Bears shot 25.9% in the opening half of the season.
SECOND HALF:
- The Pacers opened a 53-39 lead with 2:33 left in the third quarter as it looked like USC Aiken was going to cruise the rest of the way for the victory.
- After the Bears cut the lead to eleven to enter the fourth quarter, LR went on an 11-0 run to open the final frame and tie the game at 56.
- Bears opened their biggest lead with 4:06 left to go as Crooks layup gave the Bears a 64-59 lead.
- After Pacers tied it at 64-64, the teams traded baskets under a minute to go before Crooks' jumper at the buzzer went around the rim and fell out to send the game into overtime.
- Bears got the first basket in overtime but the Pacers then used an 8-2 run to close the game. LR went 1-7 from the field the rest of the way.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:
- Bears went 18-18 from the free throw line in regulation but missed both attempts in overtime.
- Jalen Gathers had a career high 22 points in 32 minutes off the bench tonight.
- Tilda Lindstrom had seven rebounds to finish behind Harman's team high of nine.
- Bears shot just 2-16 from long range in the game.
UPNEXT: There's a quick turnaround as the Bears will play Lander tomorrow at 1:00 PM to conclude the PBC/SAC Challenge.
