Hickory, N.C.--  The Lenoir-Rhyne Women's Basketball Team knocked off the top seed Catawba Indians 68-63 on Saturday and moved on the SAC title game for the first time since the 2014 season. This will be the fourth title appearance for the Bears in their 32nd tournament as the Bears will be looking for their third title and first since the 2009 victory over Tusculum. 

Standing in the way and looking for their own title are the Anderson Trojans. The Trojans started their impressive tournament run with a 72-64 victory at Carson-Newman in the quarterfinals then Anderson ended Wingate's 11-game winning streak with an 87-75 win over the Bulldogs in the semifinals. Anderson is on their own five-game winning streak as the Trojans have not lost since their visit to Shuford Arena on February 15th. 

The Bears did sweep Anderson in both matchups this year winning 73-64 at home earlier last month and 78-70 at Anderson in December. However, Anderson has been red-hot shooting the ball since they left Hickory. The Trojans are shooting 45.5% from the floor in their five game winning streak. Anderson is led by second team all-sac selection Diamond McDowell. McDowell is averaging 13.6 points per game and 9.9 rebounds per contest but the sophomore has turned up the volume scoring 21.0 points and grabbing 14.5 rebounds so far in the SAC tournament. 

For the Bears, Emily Harman loves playing against Anderson as the junior already has five 20-point games against the Trojans in her career and is averaging 25.5 points per game in her six career games against Anderson. Harman led the Bears with 22 points including 14 in the fourth quarter when the Bears defeated Anderson on February 15th. Harman is coming off a 17 point game against Catawba on Saturday but did struggle shooting just 5-12 from the floor. 

Anderson will look to use their size as an advantage as the Trojans come into the matchup leading the SAC in total rebounding and offensive rebounds as the Trojans average 14.9 offensive rebounds per contest. The Bears did a great job holding the Trojans to just nine offensive boards in the last contest but Anderson had 22 offensive rebounds in the first matchup that led to 25 second chance points. To counter, the Bears will need to finds ways to steal some extra possessions and take more shots then Anderson which will neutralize the Trojans size advantage.

Neither team had the luxury of earning a home playoff game in the quarterfinals as the Bears finished third in the Piedmont Division while Anderson was two games behind the Bears in fourth place. The Bears will be the designated home team for the title game tomorrow and will wear their home white uniforms for the first time in the SAC tournament. 

The winner of this game will receive the automatic bid to the NCAA tournament that starts Friday. The Bears entered the SAC Tournament 4th in the southeast regional while Anderson entered 9th. With the two wins against teams ahead of them in the rankings, Anderson is in a position to secure an at-large bid even with a loss but a victory would cap this tournament run. 

However, the Bears will be looking for their third victory over Anderson this season which will bring home their third SAC title in program history and will punch the Bears ticket in the NCAA tournament for just the sixth time. Tip-off is at 1:00 PM  inside Timmons Arena.