The Lenoir-Rhyne Women’s Basketball Team won their 20th game of the season for the first time since 2013-14 as the Bears defeat Anderson 73-64 in the annual Play4Kay game on Wednesday night inside the Shu. Emily Harman continued to dominate the Trojans as the junior had her fifth career 20-point game against the Trojans as Harman scored 14 of her game-high 22 points in the 4th quarter tonight to lead the Bears to their 20th win.

The 2013-14 team finished 24-7 and won the SAC regular season title. Bears swept the Trojans in the season series for the first time since the 2011-12 season.

Harman now has 986 points and is 14 points away from being the 24th player in program history with 1,000 career points. Harman continues to shine against Anderson as the junior has averaged 25.5 points in six career games against the Trojans. Blaikley Crooks continued her red-hot month as the junior has averaged 19.2 points per game in her five games so far this February.

The first quarter saw four lead changes and three ties as neither team had a lead more than one possession. A jumper by Anderson’s Brittany Stafford gave the Trojans a 20-17 lead after ten minutes. Crooks led the Bears with seven points in the first quarter. A 10-0 run to close the second quarter for LR opened a 41-30 lead heading into intermission as the Bears did not look back. All eight Bears that saw the floor scored a field goal in the first half as the Bears shot an even 50% from the floor.

The shots were not falling in the third quarter as the Bears made just 5 of 19 shots in the quarter but got a layup from Brandi Hudson at the buzzer to take a 53-47 lead into the final frame. Six fourth quarter turnovers by Anderson cost the Trojans any chance to cut the Bears lead as Anderson could not get closer then six points in the final period.

Harman went 5 from 8 from the floor and connected on all four free-throws in the final ten minutes as Harman had 14 of the Bears final 20 points. LR did not miss a free-throw in the contest for the first time since January 15, 2022 against Carson-Newman.

Bears shot 45% from the floor in both games against Anderson this season. LR did make 32 field goals tonight their second most on the season.

Diamond McDowell had her 10th double-double of the year with 18 points and 10 rebounds. McDowell also had seven blocks in the contest. Britney Bailey also had a double-double as Bailey had 10 points and 11 rebounds.

Jalyn Spurlin had 16 points while shooting 6-11 from the floor.

Harman had six assists to go along with her game high 22 points. Hannah Stull and Brandi Hudson each had five steals on the night. Azariah Fields had eight points, six rebounds and five assists while Megan Landsiedel had six rebounds as well.

Bears attempted a season-low six three point shots on the night.

The Bears are 20-5 overall, 10-5 in the South Atlantic Confernece.  Senior day is Saturday inside the Shu against Lincoln Memorial. Tip-off is scheduled from 2:00 PM.