HARROGATE, TN - Lenoir-Rhyne women's basketball's magical season came to an end on Monday. The Bears fell 72-53 to Carson-Newman in the Southeast Regional Championship.
Lenoir-Rhyne finishes their season with a record of 26-6 and a South Atlantic Conference Regular Season Championship. The 26 wins is the fourth most in program history the 20 conference victories set a new program record.
Carson-Newman advances to their second Elite Eight in program history. The eight teams will be re-seeded following the conclusion of all regional finals.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: Carson-Newman 72, #18 Lenoir-Rhyne 53
Records: Carson-Newman (24-10), Lenoir-Rhyne (26-6)
Location: Harrogate, Tenn. | Frank B. Tex Turner Arena
STORY OF THE GAME:
- Trista Charles hit three free throws to give Lenoir-Rhyne their last lead of the game at 13-12.
- Carson-Newman scored the final five points of the first quarter to take a 17-13 lead after one.
- The Eagles outscored the Bears 17-11 in the second quarter to take a 34-24 lead into the break.
- Abigail Brown cut the lead to five, 40-35, with 6:17 remaining in the third.
- Following that bucket Lenoir-Rhyne went scoreless over the next six minutes until Tatum Bowen hit a three just before the quarter ended.
- The Eagles commanded the fourth quarter, never letting the lead get below double-figures en route to the win.
STATS OF THE GAME:
- Abigail Brown led the Bears with 13 points while Aaliyah El chipped in 11.
- Lauren Arnold finished with eight points and nine boards.
- Lenoir-Rhyne shot 16-61 (26.2%) from the field, 7-29 (24.1%) from three, and 14-17 (82.4%) from the foul line.
- Carson-Newman was 27-59 (45.8%) from the field, 7-19 (36.8%) from three, and 11-18 (61.1%) from the free throw line.
- The Bears were outscored 38-18 in the paint and had just nine second chance points.
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:
- Lenoir-Rhyne set program records for points (2,701), threes (279), blocked shots (126), and consecutive wins (19).
- Aaliyah El's 545 points ranks fifth all-time in program history for a single season.
- Tatum Bowen, Amiya Porter, and Elyseia Brown all joined the single-season top ten for threes made.
- Abigail Brown's 58 blocks places her fifth all-time.
- As there were no seniors on this roster, every player is eligible to return for next season.