Pioneers Use Strong Second Half to Defeat Mars Hill

GREENEVILLE, TENN. - The Mars Hill women's basketball team lost 83-61 to Tusculum in Pioneer Arena on Wednesday evening. The Lions fall to 6-17 overall and 5-14 in the South Atlantic Conference, while Tusculum improves to 7-16 and 7-12 in league play.

Mars Hill was led by Ansley Ricker's 18 points, while Kelsey Espinosa contributed 11 points.

Tusculum received 23 points each from Shynese Whitener and Nequoiah Anderson. Blakeley Burleson scored 14 points, with Maelyn Cutshaw giving the Pioneers 11 points.

The Pioneers jumped out to an 11-4 lead with just under 14 minutes to play in the opening half. Mars Hill went on a 10-2 run, taking a 14-13 lead with 11:47 remaining in the first half. The Lions and Pioneers were tied twice in the next five minutes before Tusculum opened up a 30-24 lead with 3:44 to play. A pair of Autumn Ward free throws with three seconds remaining sent the Lions into halftime trailing 39-36.

A Brittany Baker layup brought Mars Hill to within a point, 39-38, with just over 18 minutes remaining. Tusculum pushed their lead back to five points before Espinosa brought the Lions back to within one, 46-45 after a pair of free throws and a layup. Tusculum went on an 18-4 run to take a 64-49 lead with just under 12 minutes remaining. The Pioneers led by as many as 28 down the stretch en route to completing the season sweep of the Lions.

Mars Hill returns to Stanford Arena on Saturday, hosting Newberry at 2 p.m.