Lions Rally to Defeat Catawba

MARS HILL, N.C. – The Mars Hill women's basketball team snapped a six game losing streak with a 78-76 victory over Catawba in Stanford Arena on Saturday afternoon. The Lions improve to 3-11 on the season and 2-8 in the South Atlantic Conference. Catawba falls to 8-6 with a 6-4 mark in the league.

Mars Hill had four players in double figures, led by Ansley Ricker with 19 points. Brittany Baker scored a season high 17 points, with Autumn Ward adding 11 points and Paige Chavis with 10.

Catawba was led by Chloe Bully's game high 20 points, with Antionette McPhail adding 16, Jelena Ciric with 11 and Jada Huntley with 10.

The Lions jumped out to an 11-7 lead at the first media timeout before Catawba tied the game at 18 at the midpoint of the opening half. Mars Hill retook the lead on a Ricker 3-pointer and extended their lead to seven points, 27-20, before Catawba pulled ahead on a Ciric 3-pointer with six minutes remaining. The Lady Indians enjoyed a 43-37 advantage at halftime and were five-for-eight from behind the 3-point line in the first half.

Mars Hill cut the Catawba lead to three points just over a minute into the second half before the Lady Indians extended the lead to eight points with just over 17 minutes remaining. Mars Hill went on another run, cutting the Lady Indian advantage down to three, 60-57, with 10:26 to play. Catawba pushed the lead to eight points, 69-61, with 7:21 remaining. Mars Hill mounted another charge, cutting the Lady Indian lead to four with just over six minutes to play before reclaiming the lead, 72-71, on a Baker layup with 5:04 remaining.

Catawba took the lead thanks to a pair of Ciric free throws and enjoyed a two point cushion after McPhail sank a free throw with 3:11 remaining. Ricker put Mars Hill up by one, 75-74, thanks to a 3-pointer with 2:44 on the clock. After Autumn Ward made a free throw to give the Lions a 76-74 lead, Bully tied the game at 76 on a layup with 1:55 to play. On their next possession, Baker made a layup that gave Mars Hill a 78-76 lead with 1:44 remaining. Catawba had the opportunity to win the game on their final possession, but McPhail's 3-pointer sailed over the rim and time expired before the Lady Indians could put up the offensive rebound.

Mars Hill will hit the road on Wednesday night, traveling to Lincoln Memorial for a 6 p.m. start.