HARROGATE, Tenn. – A pair of double-doubles from
Megan Pittman (Liberty, Ky.) and
Josey Harding (Middletown, Ohio) led the way as the LMU women's basketball team improved to 6-0 with the 63-50 win over Lees-McRae Saturday afternoon.
With the win, LMU improved to 6-0 for the first time since the 1991-92 season, when they started out 7-0.
Pittman had 15 points and 11 rebounds while Harding had 10 points and 13 rebounds.
Karsen Sims (Gatlinburg, Tenn.) and
Shea Coker (Knoxville, Tenn.) each chipped in nine points.
Markia Stacey led Lees-McRae with 16 points while Brea Forbes had 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Neither team shot well for the game, though LMU led from the tip to the final buzzer, holding the outright lead for 38:31 out of the 40 minutes. Sims got things going as she took the long pass from
Ross Mathis (Greer, S.C.) following a Bobcats missed three-pointer and hit the breakaway layup. Stacey tied the game on the next possession as she took the inbounds pass and went straight to the basket to tie the game at 2-2. Following a pair of Harding free throws, Lees-McRae's Alexis Ammons tied the game up at 4-4 with the short jumper. After that, LMU exploded on a 17-1 run to end the quarter with a 21-5 lead.
Lees-McRae would outscore LMU 11-9 in the second period, but not really make up any ground as LMU led at the half 30-16.
The two teams would basically trade baskets for the whole of the third quarter. The Bobcats would cut the lead to 41-29 with 4:17 remaining, but the Lady Railsplitters used baskets from
Sydnie Anderson (Cleveland, Tenn.) and Coker to push the lead back out to 16. LMU would end the third stanza with the 49-34 lead.
In the fourth, LMU would extend the lead out to 19 points on two occasions before seeing Lees-McRae score eight unanswered points to cut the lead to 55-44 with 4:22 left in the game. Pittman would score seven of LMU's eight points down the stretch as the Lady Railsplitters held on for the 63-50 win.
Next up for LMU is a South Atlantic Conference matchup with Lenoir-Rhyne Wednesday afternoon. Tip-off is set for 5:30 in the Tex Turner Arena.
