PEMBROKE – The UNC Pembroke women's basketball team took a 56-54 lead on Melanie Horne's 3-pointer with 2:23 left to play, but Lenoir-Rhyne closed the game on a 9-2 run to post a 63-58 win over the Braves on Thursday evening at Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court.
 
 The result marked the second-straight loss for the Braves (1-2) who are now 10-4 in home openers under head coach John Haskins. It was the first win of the season for Lenoir-Rhyne (1-2) who have already faced three Peach Belt Conference foes this season.
 

THE BASICS

SCORE: Lenoir-Rhyne 63, UNC Pembroke 58 RECORDS: UNC Pembroke 1-2; Lenoir-Rhyne 1-2 LOCATION: Pembroke, N.C. (Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court)

HOW IT HAPPENED

1ST QUARTER

UNCP jumped out to an early lead in the first quarter, holding the Bears to just seven points. The Braves cushioned their first quarter lead with a 3-pointer at the end of the quarter by Shaniya Lester that gave the hosts a 16-7 lead.

2ND QUARTER

The roles were reversed in the second quarter when the Bears held the Braves to only seven points. Hampered by cold shooting in the second quarter, the Braves finished the first half with just 26 percent shooting. Melanie Horne led the Braves in the first half, scoring eight of her 15 points on the night.

3RD QUARTER

With an evenly matched third quarter, Tee Graham's 3-pointer with 5:18 left ignited the Braves on a 9-0 run that gave them a 39-36 lead with 2:24 left. Lenoir-Rhyne scored the last seven points of the period to take a 43-39 advantage.

4TH QUARTER

Aliyah Farmer led UNC Pembroke in the second half, scoring 11 points. The Bears extended their lead to four, 54-50, on a trey by Ashley Rodriguez with 3:30 left in the game. Horne gave the Braves a 56-54 lead on a 3-pointer with just less than 2:30 left to play. Lenoir-Rhyne closed the game on a 9-2 run, fueled by a 5-for-6 clip from the free throw line.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

+ Melanie Horne scored a team-high 15 points on 6-of-14 shooting, including a 3-for-9 clip from the perimeter. + Newcomer Deja McCain pulled down a game-best eight rebounds – the third time in as many games McCain has paced the Braves on the boards. + The Braves pulled down 20 offensive boards on the night, and outscored the Bears 12-2 on second-chance points. + UNCP took its largest lead of the night, 13-2, on a layup from McCain just less than five minutes into the game.

NOTABLES

+ Thursday's setback was the fourth-straight series loss for the Braves, but the first against the Bears in Pembroke. UNCP last tasted victory against the Bears on Nov. 17, 2001. + UNCP is now 10-4 in home openers under head coach John Haskins. The Braves have now split their last four home openers.

UP NEXT

UNCP will open a two-game road trip on Tuesday when it makes the short trip north to battle Fayetteville State (2-1) in Felton J. Capel Arena. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.

STAY CONNECTED

Follow UNCP Women's Basketball on Twitter and Instagram and "Like" UNCP Women's Basketball on Facebook.

JOIN THE BRAVES CLUB

Fans can help support the UNC Pembroke Women's Basketball program by joining the Braves Club. To find out more information about the Braves Club, visit UNCPBraves.com/BravesClub or email braves.club@uncp.edu.