HICKORY, N.C. - The Lincoln Memorial University women's basketball team (3-3, 2-3 South Atlantic Conference) dropped their second straight conference contest as they fell to Lenoir-Rhyne 63-54 Saturday afternoon. The Lady Railsplitters were unable to overcome a seven point first quarter deficit in the defeat.

The Bears got the scoring started with a Hanna McClung three pointer, but five points from Jordan Maney gave the Lady Railsplitters an early 5-3 lead. Emily Harman and McClung then combined for six straight points to give Lenoir-Rhyne the lead before an Olivia Nunn jumper extended it. Transfer Mikayla Kuehne and Lauren Flowers sandwiched baskets around a McClung three pointer to cut the lead to five before a Blaikley Crooks jumper closed out the scoring and gave the Bears a seven point lead heading into the second quarter.

LMU got off to an excellent start to begin the second quarter as a Lexi Kiser three pointer and a Flowers jumper sliced the lead to two. A Harman three pointer and a Crooks jumper gave the Bears a seven point lead before an Addi Kirkpatrick layup and two Lindsay Proffitt free throws. Harman scored once again, but Kirkpatrick hit two free throws to keep the lead at three. Kuehne then made a three to tie the game, but Crooks and Harman each scored to give Lenoir-Rhyne a 27-23 lead at the half.

The Lady Railsplitters came out of the locker room with a bang as Flowers made a three pointer, but Harman quickly scored. Maney then made a three of her own to tie the game before a Flowers layup gave LMU their first lead of the second half. Crooks and Kuehne traded baskets before an Alyssa Wagner three gave the Bears a one point lead. The Lady Railsplitters battled back after two McClung free throws as Flowers made one of her own and Kuehne made a three. Lenoir-Rhyne then went on a 6-1 run, but Flowers made a layup at the third quarter buzzer to cut the lead to two heading into the final stanza.

A Nunn layup extended the lead out to four for the Bears before Kirkpatrick and Kuehne each made baskets to tie the game at 44. Mallory Sherrill made consecutive baskets before Maney converted an and-one to cut the lead to one with just under six minutes to play. She then made a three to give the Lady Railsplitters their last lead of the game at 50-48. The Bears went on a 5-0 run to grab the lead before another Maney score, but Lenoir-Rhyne finished the game on a 10-2 run as LMU was unable to capitalize down the stretch.

Maney finished with a career high 17 points as she went 6-9 from the field, 3-4 from three, and 2-3 from the foul line while Flowers had 14 points. Kuehne continued to display her basketball acumen and veteran presence as she recorded the first double-double of her LMU career with 12 points and 10 rebounds. 

LMU will look to get back in the win column this coming Wednesday as they travel on the road to face Limestone. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.