HobbsDailyReport.com
HICKORY – Unbeaten Newberry (S.C.) spoiled the first home game of the season for the Lenoir-Rhyne University women on Tuesday night, winning 75-68 in a South Atlantic Conference (SAC) basketball opener.
WOMEN
NEWBERRY 75
LRU 68
The Wolves (4-0, 1-0) overcame an early 11-0 deficit and won behind Meg Essex’s 31 points and 15 rebounds and with Regan McCarty adding 15 points and 10 rebounds.
LRU (2-3, 0-1) had three players in double-digits – Kendall Toineeta (16), Madi Suddreth (10) and Karlie Bearden (10). Suddreth and Bearden each added 10 rebounds.
Newberry outscored LRU 26-16 in the paint and out-rebounded the Bears 44-31.
Toineeta scored in double figures for the third straight game, while Suddreth had her third double-figure game of the year and Bearden posted a double-double for the second time in her career.
LRU’s next three games are also at home with the next game Sunday at 2 pm. against Winston-Salem State.