Women’s Basketball downs Lindsey Wilson, 80-53<br><i>Lenoir-Rhyne holds off Francis Marion, 67-59</i>
MARS HILL, N.C. - Four Mars Hill players scored in double-figures to lead the Lions to an 80-53 victory over Lindsey Wilson on the first day of the Biltmore Farms/Mars Hill Classic. The Lions improve to 2-1, while the Blue Raiders fall to 3-2.
Mars Hill opened the game 8-3 on a bucket by Taylor Deal. The Lions opened up their first double-digit lead, 24-14, at the 9:09 mark off a trey by Tyler Carlson. A jumper by Lindsey Wilson's Ashley Franklin cut the deficit to six points one minute later, but the Lions finished the half on a 19-5 run. Carlson scored the last four points of the period for Mars Hill to make the score 46-23 at halftime.
The Blue Raiders' Jasmine Brimm converted a layup three minutes into the second half to cut the margin to 18 points, 48-30, but Lindsey Wilson would get no closer. The Lions took their first 30-point upper hand, 68-38, with 11:59 left in the game on a layup from Carlson. Mars Hill led by no less than 22 points the rest of the contest.
Carlson finished with a game-high 19 points and six assists. Deal poured in a double-double with 17 points and a game-high 12 rebounds, all on the defensive glass. Danielle Tucker and Ansley Ricker had 13 points apiece.
Monny Niamke scored a team-high 16 points for the Blue Raiders. Brimm added a double-double effort (10 points, 10 rebounds). Franklin and Taylor Lockridge had seven points apiece.
The Lions shot 34-of-63 (54%) from the field. The Blue Raiders hit only 35.2% (19-of-54) of their shots in the game.
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MARS HILL, N.C. - Lenoir-Rhyne used a game-high points 23 points and eight rebounds from Jazmine Charles and six made free throws in the final 54 seconds of the game to pull away from Francis Marion, 67-59, in the second half of Friday's second game in the Biltmore Farms/Mars Hill Classic. The Bears improve to 3-0, while the Patriots fall to 0-1.
Lenoir-Rhyne jumped out to an 8-1 lead six minutes into the game. A three-pointer by Charles and bucket by Danielle Bongiorno highlighted the early going for the Bears. Francis Marion responded and took a one-point advantage, 19-18, off two made free throws by Daphne Walker with 2:53 left in the first half. Trailing 21-19, Lenoir-Rhyne scored the final eight points of the period to take the lead into halftime.
Charles nailed a trey at the 12:29 mark of the second half to give Lenoir-Rhyne a 41-34 cushion. A Cameron Sealey layup at the 5:15 mark gave the Bears a double-digit lead, 56-46.
The Patriots came back with a 9-3 run in the span of 2:35. A trey from Francis Marion's Emilee Dunton cut the deficit to four points, 59-55, but the Patriots could get no closer.
Sealey finished with 19 points and seven rebounds. Whitney Brinkley had nine points.
Brittany Christian registered a team-high 16 points for Francis Marion. Walker added 10 and seven rebounds. T.T. Belcher totaled nine points and 14 rebounds, while Carmella Thompson came up with nine points and 11 rebounds.
Both teams struggled from the field. Lenoir-Rhyne was 21-of-57 (36.8%) in the game. Francis Marion hit only 25% (19-of-76) of its shots.
Mars Hill will host Francis Marion on the second day of the Biltmore Farms/Mars Hill Classic. Tipoff is set for 5 p.m.
Lindsey Wilson will battle Lenoir-Rhyne in the first game on Saturday. Tipoff is set for 3 p.m.
