GREENEVILLE, Tenn. - - Tusculum overcame a 14-point third quarter deficit and held off a late UVA Wise rally to score a 79-75 South Atlantic Conference victory at Pioneer Arena Wednesday.

Trailing by 14 with 8:54 to play in the third quarter, Tusculum's (8-2, 3-1 SAC) Mia Long started a 19-to-5 scoring spurt to tie the game in the closing moments of the period.

UVA Wise (6-4, 2-3 SAC) would regain the lead on four straight points by freshman Nia Vanzant to take to a 67-63 lead to the fourth quarter.

The final quarter saw seven lead changes with the final coming at the 2:13 mark when Long scored in the paint to give the Pioneers an 85-83 lead.

The Cavaliers would miss two shots on the following possession before eventually turning it over. Long would score a bucket on the opposite end to extend the lead to two possessions. Vanzant would score inside to cut the deficit to 87-85 before UVA Wise forced a Tusculum turnover to get the ball back with a chance to tie or win.

On the final possession, freshman Caitlyn Ross would get a look at the basket that would come up short. After Sydney Wilson salted the game away with two foul shots, the hosts claimed the league win.

Tusculum entered the game ranked regionally in the D2SIDA Southeast Region Poll and received 28 points from Wilson, 24 from Long and 20 from Kasey Johnson.

The Pioneers converted 15-of-26 free throws and forced 20 turnovers in the win.

UVA Wise senior post player, Cynita Webb scored a career-high 28 points while making a career-high 13 field goals. She added 15 rebounds to post her seventh double-double of the season. Vanzant added 23 points off the bench while Ross (12) and Mackenzie King (10) also scored in double figures.

Next up, the Cavs travel to King University Saturday for a non-conference tilt.