Lions wrap up 2022 slate on road at Lees-McRae
The Mars Hill women's basketball team (3-7) was defeated by Lees-McRae (1-10) by a score of 69-63 Sunday afternoon.
BANNER ELK, N.C. - The Mars Hill women's basketball team (3-7) was defeated by Lees-McRae (1-10) by a score of 69-63 Sunday afternoon.
Mars Hill led 14-11 after the first 10 minutes of play as the duo of Ariel Lucas and Maddie Gillie each scored five points for the Lions. Janette Hanni chipped in with four points. Lees-McRae, who shot under 20 percent in the first quarter, turned the tables in the second, outscoring Mars Hill 19-13 and hitting nearly 37 percent of their shots to enter the half leading 30-27.
Aurora Roberts and Olivia King scored five aside in the second for the Bobcats. Hanni led the Lions with four points.
The Bobcats built their lead to eight at the conclusion of the third, putting up a game-high 21 points in the frame. Logan Dutka scored a team-high six points. Hanni scored 10 of Mars Hill's 16 third quarter points.
A back-and-forth affair in the fourth saw the highest shooting percentages for both teams, both shooting over 41 percent from the floor. Mars Hill's comeback bid was stopped short despite a balanced scoring attack of seven points from Hanni, six from Lucas, and five from Hannah Barr.
Lees-McRae shot just over 31 percent in the win with Roberts leading her team in scoring with 13 points. King and Jessica Henderson each netted 11 points apiece.
Hanni led all players with 25 points, going 10-of-18 from the floor and added a game-high five steals. Lucas added 13 points while Gillie scored 11 and pulled down 10 rebounds for the double-double.
The Lions return to action on Wednesday, January 4 when they return to South Atlantic Conference play. They take to the road to face Emory & Henry with a 5:30 p.m. tipoff.
