Gaffney, S.C.-- Battling for their postseason lives, LR come up big on Saturday, outscoring Limestone 21-5 in the third quarter to hold on for a 60-58 win. The win moves the Bears to a 9-13 SAC record, which puts them in ninth, just behind Lincoln Memorial and Limestone. The top eight teams qualify for the South Atlantic Conference Tournament.

Tilda Lindstroem led the Bears with 19 points while Emily Harman had 15. Blaikley Crooks had 12 points and eight assists. 

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: Lenoir-Rhyne 60, Limestone 58
Records: Lenoir-Rhyne (11-15, 9-13 SAC), Limestone (14-12, 10-12 SAC)
Location: Timken Center | Gaffney, S.C.

STORY OF THE GAME:

• LR shot 46% from the floor in the opening quarter to take a 19-13 lead after ten minutes of play.
• The Saints responded by scoring the first seven points in the second quarter. The home side continued their run and opened 32-23 lead with 1:38 left in the first half. 
• Tilda Lindstroem hit a three with :58 seconds to stop the run before a Saints basket in final few seconds of the half give them a 36-24 lead at the break. 
• After an early Limestone bucket in the third quarter, the Bears clamped down on defense and outscored the Saints 21-3 over the rest of the frame.
• LR opened a 51-39 lead with 9:38 left to go in the game before the Saints made one last run, taking a 52-51 lead with 4:35 left. 
• The teams traded leads until Blaikley Crooks stepped up to the free throw line with :16 and gave the Bears a 57-56 lead. 
• After Saints cut the lead to 59-58, Maleiya Hill iced the game with a free-throw as the Bears hung on for a 60-58 win. 

STATS OF THE GAME:

• Despite finishing with just a 33% shooting mark for the game, Lenoir-Rhyne hit seven field goals in the first and third quarters.
• The Saints out rebounded the Bears 45-36 on the day.
• Blaikley Crooks lead the Bears with eight boards while Tilda Lindstroem had seven. 
• Kaisha Hill had 13 points and 16 rebounds for the Saints.
• The game had ten lead changes. 
• LR went 12-14 from the free throw line while the Saints went 13-20. 
• LR only had six bench points today, all from Alexandra Merceron.

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE

• After the Bears swept the two games last year, the team split the series this year. 
• Crooks is now 10 points away from being the 7th player to score 1600 points in program history.
• Crooks also grabbed her 500th career rebound today.
• Emily Harman is now five points away from 1800 career points. 

UP NEXT: The Bears will have two home games next week to conclude the regular season. Catawba will be coming to town on Wednesday evening inside the Shu. Tip-off is scheduled from 5:30 pm. Senior Day will take place next Saturday against Newberry.