Greeneville, Tenn. – Using a 33-0 second half run, the Anderson University women's basketball team (12-8  12-4 SAC) blew open its game in the third quarter, defeating South Atlantic Conference opponent Tusculum (6-12, 4-10 SAC), 80-65, on Wednesday evening at Pioneer Arena.  

"I am so proud of the team and how they competed tonight, said head coach Jonathon Barbaree. "I also have to really give credit to the players on how they came together at halftime and responded in the third quarter. That was all them and not coaching. If they can continue to do that we'll be in great shape."

Anderson's Shameka McNeill reached the 1000 career-point milestone scoring a game-high 28 points. The current SAC Player of the Week, began the night making 4-of-4 from behind the arc to eclipse the mark. McNeill also grabbed five rebounds and dished out three assists. Graduate Samantha Michel poured in 21 points on 7-of-8 shooting from the floor and 7-of-9 from the charity stripe. Senior Britney Bailey ripped down a game-high 10 rebounds for the Trojans. Bailey is tied for second in the SAC for rebounds per game with 9.3 a clip.  

Tusculum placed two players in double-digit scoring with Jalia Arnwine scoring a team-high 20 points and Brianna Dixon netting 17 points for the Pioneers.

Despite McNeill's hot shooting to begin the game, the Pioneers answered back on each occasion, eventually taking a, 13-12, lead. Tusculum was able to push its lead to, 19-15, before Anderson finished the quarter with a 4-0 run to tie the game at 19 apiece.

The game remained tied at 30 apiece with 2:56 to play in the second period when TU's Dixon finished off the backend of her foul shots to gain the lead, 31-30. Anderson's two-minute lull before scoring its final basket of the half helped the Pioneers enter halftime with a, 35-32, lead.

The Pioneers hit a 3-point basket to begin the third quarter to extend its lead to 38-32. The Black and Gold elevated its defensive effort which resulted in a 33-0 run for the Trojans. Tusculum did not score another basket until 7:07 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Anderson enjoyed its largest lead of the game, 69-42, on Michel's made jumper with 5:54 remaining. The Pioneers narrowed the gap to 20 points with just under two minutes to play, the Trojans were able to close out the game on a 9-4 run to set the final score at, 80-65.

Anderson finishes up its three-game road swing when it travels to Coker on Saturday. Tip-off is slated for 2 pm.