HARROGATE, Tenn. -- The Lady Railsplitters (5-2, 2-1 SAC) resume South Atlantic Conference play as they aim for their first win over the Coker Cobras (2-4, 1-2 SAC) on Saturday at Tex Turner Arena. Lincoln Memorial is scheduled to tip-off that conference clash with the visitors from Hartsville, S.C. at 2 p.m.

The Lady Railsplitters have yet to defeat the Cobras in three tries since the two programs first met in the opening weekend of the 2012-13 campaign. Coker, in its first year in the South Atlantic Conference, accounted for two of LMU's seven league losses last season, earning a 69-60 victory in Hartsville and a 58-55 win in Harrogate. The Lady Railsplitters combined to go 45-for-128 from the field (35.1 percent) in those two regular-season meetings.

The new season has brought forth an LMU squad that has, thus far, been much more immune to the frequent offensive droughts that were characteristic of the 2013-14 team. The Lady Railsplitters are currently ranked second in the SAC with a cumulative 43.3 shooting clip, a vast improvement over last season's 39.7 percent mark. After failing to shoot better than 50 percent in any of its 56 total games over the past two seasons, Lincoln Memorial has accomplished that feat three times in just seven outings in 2014-15. The Lady Railsplitters enter Saturday's contest having reached 50 percent shooting in two consecutive games for the first time since February, 2009.

The Lady Railsplitters needed that efficiency on Monday, as they warded off the Bluefield State Blues 70-65 at Tex Turner Arena despite turning the ball over a season-high 29 times. As a result, the Blues registered 30 more shot attempts (78 to 48) and converted those 29 miscues into 26 points. Five different players hit double figures for the Lady Railsplitters. Megan Pittman (Liberty, Ky.) and Kortnay Cox (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) both posted double-doubles, as Pittman tallied her third double dip of the season with 13 points and 13 boards to pair with Cox's career-high 13 points and 12 boards. Katrina Ottesen (Chandler, Ariz.) and Samantha Satterlee (Junction City, Kan.) pitched in 12 and 11 points, respectively. It was an off night for Stephanie Smith (La Vergne, Tenn.), but she still turned in 10 points, six rebounds and five blocks in just 16 minutes.

After being mired in a 0-4 start, the Cobras have reeled off back-to-back wins coming into Saturday's contest, including an 83-53 demolition of the Queens Royals last Tuesday. Coker lives and dies by the three-pointer as they lead the SAC in three-pointers made per game (8.3) while ranking second in attempts per (21.7) and percentage (38.5 percent). The Cobras have attempted nearly twice as many three-pointers as the Lady Railsplitters, firing 130 total trifectas to LMU's 67.

Five of the Cobras' top six scorers are seniors, a group led by guard Tanesha Stenson, who is pouring in 16.2 points per game on 52.7 percent shooting. Stenson also leads Coker in rebounding with 8.6 boards per appearance. Kelley Godbout is contributing 11.2 points and 5.2 rebounds per game on 45.1 percent shooting, while Hailey Yohn is chipping in 9.3 points per game. The only non-senior averaging better than three points per game is junior Kiara Shoats, who is adding 8.5 points per appearance.

The Lady Railsplitters should have a tremendous advantage on the boards as Coker ranks near the bottom of the league in total rebounds per game (34) and rebounding margin (-6.8). Lincoln Memorial, meanwhile, leads the nation in rebounding margin per the most recent NCAA Division II statistical rankings. The Lady Railsplitters are pulling in 54.7 boards per appearance and outrebounding their opponents by an average of 23.4 rebounds per game. LMU has outrebounded two different opponents by more than 30 this season (Lander, Queens).

The Lady Railsplitters are vying for their third straight win, which would ensure the best start for the program since the 2006-07 squad opened at 6-2.

Tip-off between LMU and Coker is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Saturday at Tex Turner Arena. Live stats and a live, HD video broadcast will be available via www.LMURailsplitters.com. Fans are also invited to listen along with Voice of the Railsplitters Rusty Peace at WLMU 91.3 the Gap.

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