February 2, 2008

Tusculum Women’s Basketball Holds Off Lenoir-Rhyne, 69-67

Sophomore Amber Holt scores a game-high 23 points despite the loss for the Bears

Greeneville, Tenn. – The Tusculum College Women’s Basketball Team (17-3, 7-1) held off Lenoir-Rhyne College (10-9, 2-6), 69-67, Saturday afternoon in a South Atlantic Conference game at Pioneer Arena in Greeneville, Tenn.

The Pioneers, who remained atop the league standings, won for the 14th time in their last 15 games and improved to 9-0 at home this year while the Bears lost their fourth straight contest.

Ashli Oliver (Kokomo, Ind.) led Tusculum with 17 points and was one of four Pioneers to score in double figures while L-R sophomore guard Amber Holt (Charlotte, N.C./Hopewell HS) led all scorers with 23 points to go along with eight rebounds and five assists despite the loss.

With the score tied at 67 with five seconds left, Tusculum’s Jasmine Parker (Rex, Ga.) hit the game-winning free throws (her lone points of the game) before L-R redshirt freshman LaCourtney Rann’s (Charlotte, N.C./Hopewell HS) jump shot rimmed out as time expired.

Rann was the only other Bear to score in double figures as she tallied 11 points.

Behind Holt, Lenoir-Rhyne was able to rally from two nine-point deficits (42-33 and 45-36) in the second half to take the lead but the Pioneers recaptured the advantage by scoring its last six points from the free throw line for the win.

Tusculum’s Shantae Shank (Charlotte, N.C.) added 13 points and Stephany Neptune (Wallkill, N.Y.) finished with eight points and 10 rebounds in the victory.

Lenoir-Rhyne returns home to face Brevard Wednesday at 6 p.m., while Tusculum travels to Harrogate, Tenn., to face Lincoln Memorial in a league match on Wednesday beginning at 6 p.m., as well.

Box Score