HICKORY, N.C.--The Lenoir-Rhyne Women's Basketball team scored a season high 91 points in a wire-to-wire win at home against Tusculum on Saturday afternoon. Alexander Merceron led the Bears with 23 points while
Tilda Lindstroem had a 13-point, 16-rebound double-double.
Sofia Mendez came off the bench for a season high 16 points while
Emily Harman and
Blaikley Crooks each finished with 11 points.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: Lenoir-Rhyne 91, Tusculum 78
Records: Lenoir-Rhyne 4-5 (3-4 SAC), Tusculum (4-5, 2-3 SAC)
Location: Hickory, NC | Shuford Arena
STORY OF THE GAME:
- The Bears opened a 23-14 lead after ten minutes, shooting 39% from the floor in the first quarter.
- LR extended their lead to 16 at halftime thanks to shooting it at a 47% clip in the second quarter.
- LR had 14 assists on their 17 first half baskets.
- After scoring 27 points in the first half, Tusculum came out scoring 25 points in the third quarter to cut the lead to 11 after three.
- Sofia Mendez scored nine of her 16 points in the 4th quarter, including the first six points for LR to help them pull away from the Pioneers.
STATS OF THE MATCH:
- Nine Bears scored in the first half today, led by 11 from Alexander Mercoron.
- LR went 37-48 (47.4%) from the field and 2-17 (11.8%) from three.
- Bears lead for all but :26 seconds in the contest.
- LR went 15-18 from the free-throw line.
- Vanessa Jurewicz had nine assists while Harman and Crooks had five each.
- Lindstroem had four blocks in addition to her double-double.
- The teams combined to shoot just 3-24 (12.5%) from behind the arc.
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE
- Blaikley Crooks moved to 9th all-time in program history in points scored with her 11 points today. She sits at 1,355 career points.
- Bears have won four straight games against Tusculum after losing the previous 10.
- Tilda Lindstroem's 16 boards are the most for a Bear since Madeline Hardy accomplished the feat on January 18th, 2020 vs. Catawba.
- Alexandra Merceron reached double digit scoring for the 9th straight game today.
UP NEXT: Bears will welcome Belmont Abbey to the Shu next Saturday. Belmont Abbey is currently 6-2 with two wins already against Top 25 teams. Tip-off is scheduled for 2:00 PM.