HICKORY, N.C. -- Sixteenth-ranked Lenoir-Rhyne edged visiting Catawba 65-64 on Wednesday night in a South Atlantic Conference women's basketball game at Shuford Gym. The Bears go to 17-2 overall and 7-2 in the SAC, while the Catawba Indians drop to 15-4 and 8-2.

Catawba trailed most of the game, but did grab a 53-52 lead on a basket by Lauren Ford in the opening moments of the final quarter. The Bears came right back with a 7-0 run over the next minute and half to lead 59-53.

Lenoir-Rhyne was up seven with three minutes to go when Catawba made a final push. Layups by Janiya Downs and Ford cut the margin to 65-62 with 1:46 left. Sara McIntosh made it a one-point game with 1:05 remaining.

The Lady Indians had a chance to go on top, but Lyrik Thorne missed a jumper with 20 seconds left. After Lenoir-Rhyne missed two free throws with second remaining, Thorne was off the mark on a three-pointer at the buzzer.

Catawba jumped out to a 13-8 lead in the opening quarter then suffered through a five and half minute scoring drought and LR went up 22-13 before a late three-pointer by Jada Porter. The Bears would push the margin to as much as 10, and led by nine in the third quarter before Catawba retook the lead early in the fourth.

Thorne led Catawba with 19 points and seven rebounds. McIntosh added 16 points and six boards with Downs scoring a dozen with six rebounds. Jalen Gaithers led four Bears in double figures with 14. Emily Harman collected 13, while Blaikley Crooks and Brandi Hudson both scored 12.

Catawba continues a three-game road swing with a trip to Lincoln Memorial on Saturday at 2 p.m.