Women’s Basketball Loses at Lenoir-Rhyne

HICKORY, N.C. - The Lions' women's basketball team lost their first South Atlantic Conference contest of the 2011-12 campaign at Lenoir-Rhyne University, 84-65. Mars Hill fell to 3-3 overall and 0-1 in the SAC. The Bears improved to 7-1 on the season and 1-0 in the league.

Taylor Deal posted a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds to lead MHC. Tyler Carlson had 16 points and six assists while Danielle Tucker tallied 11 points and six rebounds. Ansley Ricker rounded out the double-digit scorers for the Lions with 10 points. MHC struggled shooting the ball converting on only 35.2% (25-71) of their shots. MHC out rebounded the Bears, 44-39.

Whitley Culler led all scorers with 20 points while Cameron Sealey and Jazmine Charles recorded 12 points apiece. The Bears hit 51.7% (31-60) of their shots in the win.

Mars Hill took a 8-6 lead at the 16:31 mark in the first half after Tucker hit a layup. L-R then scored 16 unanswered points to take a 24-8 lead with 12:20 left in the first half after Kristine Rishel hit a 3-pointer. The Bears led by as many as 21 points (45-24) in the first frame after Whitney Brinkley hit a shot in the lane at the 2:39 mark. L-R enjoyed a 47-32 advantage at the intermission.

The Lions came out of the locker room and outscored the Bears 11-4 to trim the deficit to 11 points (54-43) with 15:57 left in regulation but that was as close as MHC would get. The Bears went on to win 84-65.

Mars Hill will play at SAC foe Anderson University on Saturday. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m.