ANDERSON, S.C. -- Catawba built a 16-point halftime lead then held off a pesky Anderson squad to post a 69-62 win on Wednesday night at the Abney Center. Catawba keeps its hold on the top spot in the South Atlantic Conference, improving to 19-4 overall and 11-2 in the league. The Trojans fall to 13-10 and 7-6.

Janiya Downs scored 17 of her 21 points in the opening half as the Lady Indians moved out to a 43-227 lead. Catawba never trailed and went up 9-2 after just four minutes. Anderson trailed by just four early in the second quarter before another 9-2 spurt pushed Catawba in front 34-22 with 2:40 remaining before the half.

Catawba shot 46% in the opening half, but struggled in the third quarter, making just 3-of-15 shots. That helped Anderson close to within four during the period. The Trojans cut the lead to three with four minutes to play then Lyrik Thorne followed a layup with a steal that led to a Miyah Dubose layup, making it 63-56.

Thorne did most of here damage in the second half, netting 17 of her 24 points in the second half. Thirteen of those came in the final quarter. Diamond McDowell paced Anderson with 20 points. Brittney Stafford scored a dozen, while Britney Bailey pulled down 15 rebounds with nine points.

Anderson won the rebounding battle 50-38, but Catawba was a plus-eight in turnover margin and out-scored the Trojans by nine off the miscues. Anderson shot 36% for the game, but went just 4-of-19 behind the arc. Catawba finished at 39% and made 15-of-20 (75%) at the line.

Catawba is at home on Saturday as the ladies host Limestone at 2 p.m.