Greeneville, Tenn.-- The Lenoir-Rhyne Women's Basketball team used a 13-0 run in the third quarter to defeat Tusculum 80-56 in the SAC Quarterfinals. The win was the Bears first SAC Tournament victory since the 2018-19 season as the Bears will advance to Saturday's SAC Semifinals, hosted by Furman University. The 24-point victory was the largest win for the Bears in their SAC Tournament history as a season-high six Bears reached double figures lead by 17 from Blaikley Crooks

GAME INFORMATION:
Final:  Lenoir-Rhyne 80, Tusculum 56 
Records: Lenoir-Rhyne (22-7), Tusculum (20-9) 
Location: Greeneville, Tenn. | Pioneer Arena

STATS AND INFO:

• This is the 4th all-time meeting between programs in the SAC Tournament. All three meetings took place between 2009 and 2013. 
• The Bears won the first matchup in 2009 but the Pioneers defeated the Bears in the semifinals in both 2010 and 2013. 
• This is the first matchup being played in Greenville through. 
• LR snapped a three-game SAC tournament losing streak and moved to 16-29 all-time. 
• Bears remained in fourth in the newest Southeast regional rankings that came out before the game. The selection show is Sunday March 6th at 10:30 pm. 

FIRST HALF:

• A low scoring first quarter as both teams shot under 40% and it was tied at 12 after ten minutes of action.
• After only scoring 13 points in the first 15 minutes of action, Tusculum scored 13 points in the last 5 minutes thanks to 11 points off the bench from Alyssa Walker. 
• The first half was as even as you can get but the Bears had a slight advantage as LR shot 34% in the first half while Tusculum shot 32%. LR had seven turnovers while Pioneers had eight and most importantly took a two point advantage in the point column heading into halftime.  
• A balanced attack for the Bears in the first half saw four players with four points while Azariah Fields and Crooks had six points. 

SECOND HALF:

• The third quarter was all LR as the Bears used a 13-0 run to open up their biggest lead of the game. Jalen Gathers had seven points while Emily Harman added six points during the run.
• The Bears defense held the Pioneers to just four field goals in the third quarter as Tusculum shot 4 of 21 from the floor. 
• LR took a 52-34 lead into the final frame as the Bears hit 9 of 18 in their big third quarter as LR outscored the Pioneers 24-8 in the quarter.
• Hudson scored 12 points in the second half while going perfect from the floor and the free throw line as the Bears did not allow Tusculum to make a run. 
• Tusculum went 0-13 from long range in the second half and 2-23 for the game. 

ABOUT THE PIONEERS:

• Jami Tham had her 26th double-double of the year with a game high 25 points and eleven rebounds. 
• After 11 points in the second quarter, Walker finished with 14 points and five rebounds.
• Mya Belton went 0-9 from beyond the arc but had seven rebounds for the Pioneers.

ABOUT THE BEARS:

• Six Bears scored in double figures lead by 17 from Crooks. 
• Fields had 14 points and six rebounds. 
• Hannah Stull had 10 points, seven rebounds and two huge blocks.
• Harman joined Stull with a team high seven rebounds, Harman added 12 points including six points during the 13-0 run. 

UP NEXT:  Bears will face Catawba in the SAC semifinals from Greenville, S.C. on Saturday. Tip-off is schedule for approximately 2:30 PM, which is thirty minutes after the first semi-final matchup.