LMU Women Win Thriller Against Lees-McRae 55-50

HARROGATE, TN – A steal by junior Laura Elliot (Livermore, CA) with 21 seconds to go allowed the Lincoln Memorial University women's basketball team to pull out the 55-50 win over Lees-McRae on Wednesday. (Box score)

The game was the season opener for both teams, but the Lady Railsplitters were the hot team out of the gate, pulling out to the 11-6 lead following a lay-up by junior Kate Fane (Sterling, IL) with 12:53 to go in the first half.  Lees-McRae then put the ball in the hands of senior guard Dianca Jones (Columbus, MS) who then scored five points during a 9-3 run to pull the Lady Bobcats out to a one point 15-14 lead with 9:33 to go.  Both teams then traded baskets, with LMU taking the 22-20 lead into the locker room at the half despite an eleven point first half performance from LMC junior forward Stephanie Mullinax (Etowah, TN).

The second half saw neither team manage to pull out a large lead.  LMU picked up the seven point 39-32 advantage with 10:54 to go in the game following a lay-up by junior Sidney Johnson (Cincinnati, OH).  Lees-McRae then put together a 10-0 run to take a 42-39 lead following a three-pointer by senior Taukia Hughes (Roan Mountain, TN).  Both teams traded baskets until a jumper by LMU senior Betsy Bowser (Galveston, IN) gave LMU the 51-50 lead with 35 seconds to go.  Lees-McRae then in-bounded the ball and Keyonna Sims (Washington, DC) brought the ball to the top of the key and tried to make a lob to a player posting up in the paint.  LMU's Elliot then intercepted the pass and gave the ball to senior Madeline Richards (Floyds Knobs, IN), who was immediately fouled.  Richards then hit both free throws and, following a timeout by LMC, Bowser rebounded a missed three-pointer by Mullinax and hit both of her free throws to seal the 55-50 win.

Lees-McRae (0-1) was led by Mullinax with 17 points and Jones with 11.  Brittany Roberson (Salisbury, NC)  led the Lady Bobcats on the boards with 10 rebounds.

LMU (1-0) was led by Bowser, who made her LMU debut with 15 points.  Richards added in 11 points and Elliot along with freshman Andi Winney (Yorktown, IN) pulled down 10 rebounds each.  The Lady Railsplitters won the battle of the boards, out-rebounding LMC 43-38 and also out-shot the Lady Bobcats 34.6 percent to 33.3 percent.

Lees-McRae will return home to host Anderson in the CVAC opener for both teams on November 21.

LMU will next travel to face Kentucky State this Saturday, November 18, at 3:30 pm.  Their next game in the Turner Arena will be on Nov. 21 against USC-Upstate.  Tip-off is set for 6:00 pm.