Hickory, N.C.--The Lenoir-Rhyne Women's Basketball team battled back from a sixteen point halftime deficit to get within one with 1:28 left, but the visiting Anderson Trojans held on for a 63-58 victory Wednesday night inside the Shu.
Blaikley Crooks lead the Bears with 20 points, while
Emily Harman and
Alexandra Merceron joined Crooks in double-digits as Harman had 10 points and Merceron had 11 off the bench.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: Lenoir-Rhyne 58, Anderson 63
Records: Lenoir-Rhyne (10-14, 8-12 SAC), Anderson (16-9, 12-7 SAC)
Location: Hickory, N.C. | Shuford Arena
STORY OF THE GAME:
- A 7-0 run in the first quarter run helped the Trojans to a 22-12 lead after the first ten minutes.
- The Trojans extended their lead to 39-23 at the break as the Bears shot just 23% from the floor in the second quarter.
- Crooks had 14 of her 20 points in the first half for the Bears.
- LR used a strong third quarter to cut the lead to 51-40.
- The Bears used a 9-0 run early in the 4th to cut the lead to 57-53 with 3:40 to play.
- Emily Harman drilled a three-pointer with 1:28 left to cut the lead to 59-58.
- The Trojans scored the last four points to hold on to win 63-58.
- Harman had 12 of her 14 points in the second half to help the Bears battle back.
- All seven Bears had at least two rebounds on the night as Sarah Burton lead LR with eight.
- Diamond McDowell had a 18-10 double-double for the Trojans.
- Despite the comeback the Bears did not have the lead at any point tonight.
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE
- The teams split the season series for the second straight year.
- However this year the road teams won both games.
- Blaikley Crooks got her 200th steal in the second quarter, making her the ninth player in school history to hit that mark.
- Crooks had five rebounds tonight and is five rebounds away from 500 in her career.
UP NEXT: The Bears will head to Lincoln Memorial on Saturday to face the Railsplitters. LR got a break tonight as LMU lost to Emory & Henry in overtime and fell to 8-11 in the SAC. The Railsplitters defeated the Bears 63-50 earlier this season inside the Shu. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. in Harrogate, Tennessee.