Women's Basketball Triumphs Over LMU in SAC Quarterfinal

SALISBURY, NC -- Chloe Bully (Hannut, BELGIUM/Namur HS) led five players in double figures with 19 points as Catawba College defeated Lincoln Memorial University 75-65 in a South Atlantic Conference Tournament first-round game Wednesday night at Goodman Gym. The Lady Indians improve to 18-9 overall while the Railsplitters end their season at 14-13.

Catawba led the entire second half and by as many as 20 at one point as it cruised into the next round of the SAC Tournament. Despite making just 2-of-17 three-pointers, the Lady Indians out-rebounded the taller Railsplitters 51-35 and scored 22 second-chance points to LMU’s one.

Dana Hicks (York, SC/Gaston Day HS) had a great night with 17 points and 18 rebounds while Nisha Long (Dallas, NC/Gaston Day HS) contributed 13 points and eight assists.

The Lady Indian's lead first entered double-digits on a Bully three-pointer at the 14:37 mark of the second half. The Railspltter’s 6’5” center Lauren Cochran went out for a breather and Catawba went on a 13-3 run while dominating the boards to open up a 60-40 advantage with 10:30 remaining.

LMU got within 62-50 on back-to-back three-pointers by Ralissa Nelson and Dayshalee Salaman with 6:01 left. Salaman then cut it 10 at 68-58 on a transition layup with 4:08 to go. 

The Lady Indian's advantage was dwindled down to 68-60 on two free throws by Salaman with 1:28 remaining, but the Railplitters had to resort to fouling as Catawba hit 7-of-10 shots from the charity stripe to secure the win.

Catawba nursed a five-point lead at halftime while shooting just 37% in the first half. Lincoln Memorial managed to hit 14-of-30 shots from the field but was out-rebounded 27-19 and outscored 11-0 in second-chance points. The Lady Indians also held an 11-1 advantage in points off turnovers.

Quaneasia Coleman (Duluth, GA/Northview HS) had 10 points and seven rebounds while Taylor May (China Grove, NC/S. Rowan HS) chipped in with 11 and six of her own for the Lady Indians. Salaman poured in 19 points for LMU as Cochran had 14 and nine rebounds.

The Lady Indians advance to meet Newberry, a 60-54 winner over Tusculum, in a SAC Tournament semifinal game at Catawba Valley Community College in Hickory, NC on Saturday, Mar. 3 at 8 p.m.