Hickory, N.C.----The Lenoir-Rhyne University Bears scored six of the last eight goals Tuesday night, including the game-winner with 24 seconds left to rally past Wingate University for a 15-14 victory in South Atlantic Conference women's lacrosse action. The Bears improve to 7-4 overall and 3-1 in the SAC, while the Bulldogs fall to 3-7 overall and 1-2 in league play.

KEY STATS

- LR held a 37-23 advantage in shots, with a 28-16 edge in shots on goal
- The Bulldogs had 22 turnovers; the Bears turned it over 15 times
- Lenoir-Rhyne held a 25-17 edge in ground balls
- Wingate won 19 draw controls compared to Lenoir-Rhyne's 12
- WU converted four-of-five free-position shots; LR was two-for-six on free-position chances

KEY BULLDOGS

- Kendall Wells scored a season-high six goals on seven shots, adding an assist and three ground balls
- Becca Ruiz added two goals and an assist, adding three ground balls and a caused turnover
- Casey Roux also scored a pair of goals to go along with seven draw controls
- Nina Cifolilli contributed a goal and three assists
- Paige Kamer handed out a pair of assists
- Morgan Akers, Bella Pellet and Emily Ketron added a goal apiece
- Arion Pierre piled up 13 saves and added five ground balls

FIRST HALF

- LR jumped out to a 3-0 lead three minutes in on a Cathleen Gaffney goal
- Wells scored twice in 40 seconds to get the Bulldogs within one
- Another Gaffney goal put the Bears on top 5-2 with 23 minutes left in the half
- Goals from Ketron and Roux got Wingate back within a goal midway through the half
- Lenoir-Rhyne scored the final two goals of the half, keeping WU off the board for 12 minutes to take a 9-6 halftime lead

SECOND HALF

- Wingate came out on fire in the second half, scoring the first six goals in an 11-minute span
- Wells scored the first two in the spurt, while Ruiz tied it with 24:52 to go
- Akers scored 24 seconds later to put the 'Dogs on top 10-9
- Goals from Cifolilli and Wells capped the flurry, giving Wingate a 12-9 advantage with 19:47 left
- LR scored three times the next three minutes, tying it at 12 on an Alyssa Sack goal
- Roux put WU back on top with 11:52 to go, but Francis Williams tied it at 13 with 8:24 left
- Rachel Elmore put Lenoir-Rhyne on top 14-13 at the 2:18 mark
- Ruiz tied it at 14, finding the back of the net with 38 seconds remaining
- LR won the ensuing draw, with Gia Colombo netting the winner with 24 seconds to go

UP NEXT

- Wingate is back in action Saturday, traveling to Lincoln Memorial for a 12 p.m. start
- The 'Dogs return home next Wednesday, hosting Converse at 4 p.m.