Hickory, N.C.- The Anderson University basketball team was unable to complete the comeback after erasing a 16-point halftime deficit, falling in double overtime to South Atlantic Conference opponent Lenoir-Rhyne, 83-70, on Saturday afternoon at the Shuford Gymnasium. The Trojans slip to 11-7 overall and 10-6 in SAC play, while the Bears improve to 4-10 overall and 4-9 in conference action.
"I hated to drop one like that on the road, after fighting so hard to get back," said head coach Jonathon Barbaree. "But that is what makes our conference so tough."
"It's always tougher to grab wins in late February," added Barbaree. "You have to have great starts and do the little things. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case in the beginning and LR shot lights out."
"I loved our second half response and grit," boasted Barbaree. "That is what it's going to take come tournament time and that's the experience that we have to take from today."
KEY STATS
- Anderson shot 32.9 (28-85) percent from the field, while Lenoir-Rhyne shot 38.2 percent (29-76).
- The Bears outrebounded, 54-50.
- Anderson shot just 46.2% (six-13) from the free throw line, with the Bears shooting 84.2 percent (16-19).
- The Black and Gold recorded 13 blocked shots.
KEY TROJANS
- J'Mya Cutter scored a career-high 26 points and pulled down 8 rebounds.
- Samantha Michel contributed 20 points, ripped down 14 rebounds. Michel equaled her career-high, with six blocked shots.
- Britney Bailey netted five points, while grabbing seven rebounds.
NOTES
- Anderson is 1-6 when trailing at the half.
- The Trojans are 1-5 when getting beat on the glass.
FIRST QUARTER
- Lenoir-Rhyne outscored Anderson, 16-10.
- The Bears built a nine point lead, with Cutter's three-point basket in the waning seconds of the quarter, closing the gap to six.
SECOND QUARTER
- The Bears outscored Anderson, 25-15.
- Lenoir-Rhyne led by 16 with 6:35 to play in the period.
- AU cut the lead to eight on Maggie Campbell's three-point basket and then again on a jumper by Cutter.
- An 8-0 run to close out the first half, pushed the Bears lead back to 16.
THIRD QUARTER
- Anderson used a 5-0 run, in the last half of the third quarter, to cut the lead to 10.
-The Black and Gold outscored, 13-7.
FOURTH QUARTER
- Anderson continued its run to begin the fourth period, cutting the lead to one, 48-47.
- The Trojans took their first lead, since the opening points of the all game, , on Michel's layup.
- Lenoir-Rhyne held a three lead with 25 second remaining.
-Cutter drained a three-point basket from the top of the key to knot the game at 61.
- The Bears Emily Harman drove in for a layup and was denied by AU's Taylor Hair.
OVERTIME
-Anderson and Lenoir-Rhyne both scored eight points in OT.
- Gadson and Michel each scored four points apiece.
SECOND OVERTIME
-Lenoir-Rhyne outscored Anderson 14-1, to earn its fourth win of the season.
UP NEXT
-Anderson will host SAC opponent Wingate on Wednesday. Tip-off is slated for 5:30 pm.
