HICKORY, NC - Fighting for their playoff lives, the Lenoir-Rhyne women's basketball team outscored Catawba 19-8 in the fourth quarter but fell just short, dropping this Wednesday contest by a final score of 53-52. Highlighting the day was Blaikley Crooks, who scored her 1600th point late in the game.

The Bears are still alive in the hunt for the eighth and final SAC playoff spot. LR holds the tiebreaker over Limestone, so an 0-2 finish from Limestone and a win on Saturday for Lenoir-Rhyne puts the Bears in the tournament. The Saints travel to Emory & Henry tomorrow before closing with a road contest at LMU on Saturday.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: Lenoir-Rhyne 52, Catawba 53
Records: Lenoir-Rhyne (11-16, 9-14 SAC), Catawba (16-11, 14-9 SAC)
Location: Shuford Arena | Hickory, NC

STORY OF THE GAME:

• It was a low scoring game early, with the Bears holding on to a 4-3 lead five minutes into the contest.
• A late bucket from Catawba's Julie Janus gave them the 10-8 lead after 10.
• The Indians shot 69% in the second quarter and took a 30-17 lead into the locker room.
• Staring at a 16-point deficit, the Bears chipped into the lead, eventually cutting it to five on a layup from Blaikley Crooks.
• Catawba held strong and led 45-33 going into the fourth.
• The Bears dominated the fourth and eventually cut the lead to 47-45 with 3:33 left on a three from Emily Harman.
• Maleiya Hill hit some clutch free throws and Crooks hit a late layup, but the visitors held on for the one-point victory.

STATS OF THE GAME:

• Emily Harman's 15 points led the team, followed by 14 from Blaikley Crooks. 
• Alexandra Merceron was tops with nine rebounds, while Tilda Lindstroem tallied two blocks.
• The Bears struggled from the field, going just 19-55 (34.5%) from the field and 4-15 (26.7%) from three. 
• Catawba was 22-54 (40.7%) from the field and 5-18 (27.8%) from three.

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE

• Catawba now leads the all-time series 44-30.
• Blaikley Crooks needs just 11 points to pass Tracy Naidas for fifth all-time in career points.
• Catawba locked up the #5 seed in the SAC tournament with tonight's win.

UP NEXT: The Bears will play their final home game in Shuford on Saturday when they play host to the Newberry Wolves. This will also double as senior day. The ceremony is set to take place just before tipoff. The game is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.