The Lady Indians made 61.1 percent of their field goal attempts, including 11-for-20 from 3-point range. It was by far their top shooting percentage of the campaign.

Catawba was 33-for-54 from the field. At the same time, the Lady Indians showed one of the best defensive efforts of the season, limiting Lenoir-Rhyne to 23-for-56 from the floor.

It was Catawba’s 13th win against four losses. The victory allowed the Lady Indians, winners of three straight, to hold onto at least a tie for second place in the conference race with a 5-2 record.

The loss left the Lady Bears with a 9-8 overall mark and dropped them out of tie for second place in the SAC with a 4-3 record.

“Overall, this was our best effort of the season,” said coach John Duncan. “We shot the basketball extremely well and we played good defense. If we play this way, we are going to be hard to beat. We shot very well from the 3-point area. We’d like to score 11 goals from that range every game.”

The Lady Indians got off to a sizzling start and did not let up. Olivia Norred hit two 3-pointers and Leticia Stockton added one as Catawba jumped ahead by 9-2.

Lenoir-Rhyne cut the gap to 9-8, and then the Lady Indians went on a 16-0 surge to open up a 25-8 advantage, virtually putting the win in the bag.

Catawba rolled to a 38-20 lead at halftime. The Lady Indians made 59.3 percent (16-for-27) from the floor in the first half. Among their goals were five 3-pointers.

Norred got the Lady Indians rolling with a 3-pointer early in the second half, and they raced away to a 66-34 lead with 10:34 left to play.

Four Lady Indians reached double figures at scoring. Lakai Brice led the attack with 16, including 11 in the last half. She made seven of nine from the floor, including two 3-pointers.

Valerie Powell turned in a sparkling game with 14 points and 12 rebounds. She grabbed 11 rebounds off the defensive board.

Vuokko Timola followed with 12 points, including six from the 3-point area.

Norred led with three 3-pointers and 11 points.

Amber Hanks led Lenoir-Rhyne with 14.

LENOIR-RHYNE (59) — Bryan 7, Hale 9, Hanks 14, Grady 8, Naidas 6, Orr 8, Williams 2, Jefferson, Feaster 5, Hillyer, Shannon.

CATAWBA (79) — Norred 11, Buckland 8, Powell 14, Stockton 5, Brice 16, Borders, Timola 12, Puolitaival 5, Wooten 8, Allen, Austin, Mitchell, Cartwright.

Lenoir-Rhyne 20 39 — 59