GREENWOOD, S.C.--The Lenoir-Rhyne Women's Basketball team opened their 2024-35 season with a dominant 70-47 win over USC-Aiken in the PBC/SAC Challenge. Alexandra Merceron led the Bears with 17 points while Blaikley Crooks added 16. The Bears will play the host Lander tomorrow at 2:00 PM. 

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: Lenoir-Rhyne 70, USC-Aiken 47
Records: Lenoir-Rhyne 1-0, USC-Aiken 0-1
Location: Greenwood, SC

STATS OF THE MATCH:

• After the game was tied at 6-6, the Bears went on a 10-0 run and never looked back as the Pacers did not lead once in the game. 
• LR led 18-10 after one quarter before catching fire in the second quarter. LR went 10-11 from the field and raced out to a 42-19 halftime lead. 
• The 23-point halftime margin was also the game's final margin as the two teams played even in the second half. 
• 16 different Bears played in the contest and 10 players played at least 13 minutes in the game. 
• 40 of the Bears 72 points came from the paint as LR only went 2-9 from long range. 
• The Pacers out rebounded the Bears 44-35 in the contest. 
• Freshman Gabby Bush was the third Bear in double figures with 10 points while adding five rebounds. 
• Sofia Mendez was the only Bear to hit from long range as Mendez connected on both of her three-pointers on the afternoon. 
• Bears defense forced 30 turnovers and scored 24 points off those Pacer miscues.

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:

• This is the sixth season the teams have played in the Peach Belt/SAC Challenge. Bears are 4-2 against the Pacers in them six games. 
• Emily Harman crossed over the 1500 career points marked today. 
• Harman is the 7th player to reach that milestone in program history. 
• Coach Grahm Smith now sits at 199 wins in his collegiate coaching career.

UP NEXT: The Bears will play host Lander at 2:00 PM tomorrow. Lander is coming off a 90-64 loss to #14 Carson-Newman on Saturday.