Krystal Patton came off the bench to score a career and team-high 19 points leading Lenoir-Rhyne University to a 69-66 win over Brevard in South Atlantic Conference women’s basketball play on Saturday at Shuford Gymnasium.
“That was one of her best games,” said Lenoir-Rhyne University head coach Todd Starkey. “We tell players that are on the bench that you have to prepare yourself for when it’s your opportunity and take advantage. She (Patton) took full advantage of it. The reason we won this game today is she came ready to play today.”
The win was also Starkey’s 115th career victory with the Bears, making him (115-72) the all-time winningest coach in Lenoir-Rhyne University women’s basketball history.
Starkey, in his seventh season, surpasses Pat Smith who posted 114 in five seasons.
“You have to give credit to Brevard,” said Starkey. “I think Brevard played well. They came and put pressure on us, made us defend every possession and played with passion. I think we were fortunate to win because in some ways I think they wanted it more than we did. But I think we made the right plays at the right time in order to get the job done.”
The game featured six ties and 11 lead changes, nine of the lead changes coming in the final 10 minutes.
After falling behind by 11 points midway through the first half, Lenoir-Rhyne University (12-3, 4-2 South Atlantic Conference) rallied and held its biggest lead of the game – six points -- with 1:36 remaining in the game.
Brevard (5-9, 0-6) refused to go away quietly and fought back closing to within two with six seconds remaining.
Caroline Laughter hit 1-of-2 free throws with five seconds remaining to close the scoring and Anna Schlobohm’s three-point attempt as the horn sounded to tie the game bounced off the rim.
The Bears were able to fend off the Tornados by hitting 4-of-6 from the floor and 2-of-3 from the free-throw line in the final 2:06.
Along with Patton’s play off the bench, the two biggest game-changers were free-throw shooting and three-point shooting.
Brevard was 3-for-21 from three-point range and 13-of-21 from the line while the Bears were 1-of-4 from three-point range and 24-of-38 from the free-throw line.
“We came in here looking to make a statement,” said Brevard head coach Shannon Reid. “We have lost some close games but we are much better than seasons in the past. I thought we played hard and fought it out. The difference in the game was at the free-throw line.”
Lenoir-Rhyne took the lead for good with 5:09 remaining in the game on a shot by Cameron Sealey in the paint for a 56-55 advantage.
Both teams had trouble finding the basket in the first half with Brevard shooting 35.1 percent and the Bears 34.6, but in the second half, Lenoir-Rhyne’s offense fared better hitting 46.4 percent of their shots while Brevard shot 35.3 percent.
Whitley Culler added 17 points for the Bears, nine coming from the free-throw line and Whitney Brinkley added 11.
Brevard’s Lindsay Brendle finished with a game-high 20 points followed by Schlobohm with 13 and Holli Flippo with 11.
Lenoir-Rhyne travels to Catawba on Wednesday at 6 p.m.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement