BANNER ELK, N.C. – Lees-McRae women's basketball collected the 69-63 victory over Mars Hill on Sunday afternoon on the McNair & Debi Tornow Court with
Aurora Roberts leading three scorers for the Bobcats in double figures with 13.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Lees-McRae –
69; Mars Hill – 63
LOCATION: McNair & Debi Tornow Court – Banner Elk, North Carolina
RECORDS: Lees-McRae (1-10/0-6), Mars Hill (3-7/0-3)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- McKenna Kersat followed up an offensive rebound with the first basket of the game as Lees-McRae held the 9-3 advantage in the first media timeout of the first quarter. Mars Hill gained the lead after an 11-0 run and had the 14-11 lead after 10 minutes of play.
- The Bobcats battled in the second quarter and retook the three-point lead at 30-27 after closing the half on 5-0 run with Logan Dutka knocking down a layup at the buzzer.
- Lees-McRae extended its lead in the second half after Mars Hill opened with retaking the lead at 41-33. The Bobcats answered with a 9-0 run capped by a three via Jessica Henderson. The momentum of the game would swing in favor of Lees-McRae after a technical foul was assessed to the Mars Hill bench with the Bobcats converting all four free throws out of the media timeout at 4:56 in third quarter.
- The Bobcats pulled ahead in the latter stages of the third and took an eight-point cushion into the four quarter after a Dutka jumper.
- Lees-McRae held off a Mars Hill fourth-quarter rally as the Lions got within three with 7:07 remaining in the quarter. Dianna Spence quieted the Lion run with a three of her own at the 6:16 mark and Olivia King added to Bobcat lead with a layup at the 5:23 mark.
- Henderson calmly knocked two free throws at the end of the contest for the Bobcats' first win of the season at 69-63.
- Roberts recorded her sixth game in double-digit scoring with 13 points to go along with six rebounds, three assists, and one steal. Henderson and King followed with 11 points apiece with Henderson collecting eight points from the charity stripe and added six rebounds and five assists.
- Lees-McRae held the significant advantage inside with 53 rebounds and 22 coming off the offensive glass. The Bobcats scored 24 points off the bench and held Mars Hill to 34.4% (21-61) shooting from the field.
FOR THE LIONS:
- Janette Hanni led the way in the scoring column for Mars Hill with a game-high 25 points on 10-18 from the field and added five steals, three rebounds, and three assists to her season totals.
- Ariel Lucas and Maddie Gillie recorded 13 and 11 points respectively for the Lions with Gillie grabbing a double-double with 11 points and 10 boards.
UP NEXT:
Lees-McRae women's basketball is now idle until Wednesday, Jan.4 when the Bobcats host Francis Marion for Conference Carolinas action. The tip-off for the contest is scheduled for 5 p.m. on the McNair & Debi Tornow Court.
For more information on Lees-McRae Athletics, follow the Bobcats on Twitter (@LMCBobcats), on Facebook (Lees-McRae Athletics), and on Instagram (leesmcraeathletics).
