Harrogate - LMU Women's Basketball takes down SAC foe, Carson-Newman, in double overtime in the Tex Arena, 82-78.  LMU remains undefeated and tied for first-place in SAC play at 4-0.  CNU drops to 3-1 in conference play.

The Lady Railsplitters had a slow start against a very efficient Eagle attack getting down 6-0 early in the first quarter.  A Jordan Maney ended CNU's run with a layup at the 5:12 mark.  The Eagles continued their attack building a nine point lead with a minute to go in the quarter.  Lauren Flowers would score five in the middle of the quarter to keep LMU close.  A three-pointer by Matty Tanner cut the lead to 15-9 to end the first quarter. 

Flowers would start the second quarter scoring for LMU with a jumper in the paint.  Alexa Smiddy and Zyan Smith would score layups and Flowers and Smith would sink free throws to tie the game at 21-21.  Solid defense in the last four minutes held the Eagles scoreless to end the low scoring first half.  

Things were looking up for LMU to start the third quarter with Geo Rios hitting an early three.  CNU's Lindsey Taylor kept the Eagles in the game by continuing to score almost at will.  LMU got down by 10 at one point but would not give up.  The quarter ended with LMU down, 41-32.  Flowers had four of her 23 points in the quarter and Matty Tanner added a three.  

But in true Railsplitter fashion, LMU fought back with scoring from Maney and Smiddy to keep LMU in the game.  LMU was down by 11 with three minutes to go in the game.  Again, solid defense kept CNU to only one point to the end.  Smiddy led the comeback with a jumper to cut the lead to nine with two minutes to go.  Free throws by Tanner and Flowers cut the lead to six.  Jumpers by Flowers and Rios got the game close and a huge fast-break three by Smiddy with three seconds to go tied the game at the end of regulation, 55-55. 

In the first overtime, LMU jumped out to an early four-point lead with a basket by Chloe Savage and a three by Rios.  But CNU would not relent.  Smiddy had another three and Flowers had a jumper to open a three point lead, but CNU would close the period with a three to tie, 70-70.

The second overtime had CNU jump out to a six point lead before Smiddy hit a three to stop the run.  A Maney three and two free throws plus a layup by Flowers gave LMU a four point lead.  CNU would make two free throws to cut the lead to two with eight seconds to go, but Flowers would comeback with two of her own to seal the four point win at 82-78.

Lauren Flowers led all LMU scorers with 23 with Alexa Smiddy having 16.  CNU's Lindsey Taylor led all scorers with 32 but fouled out in the first overtime with 1:32 to go.

LMU will travel to Hartsville, SC to face Coker on Saturday, January 6.