GREENEVILLE, Tenn. - - Tusculum used a 23-to-8 run to close the first half en route to a 79-68 South Atlantic Conference women's basketball victory over UVA Wise at Pioneer Arena Tuesday.

Tusculum (2-0, 2-0 SAC) held UVA Wise (0-1, 0-1 SAC) scoreless for more than three minutes during the decisive stretch as Aliyah Miller scored 16 of her game-high 22 points in the opening 20 minutes.

Trailing 52-37 at intermission, the Cavaliers were able to get back in the game in large part due to the play of redshirt junior forward Meg Crawford.

Crawford netted 12 of her 16 points in the second half and her layup with 1:05 to play in the third quarter had turned what was a 20-point deficit into a 62-52 Pioneers' lead.

UVA Wise would get to within nine at 72-63 with 3:39 to play in the game on a layup by Caitlyn Ross but, poor foul shooting and rebounding would prove to be too much to overcome. Tusculum enjoyed a 53-to-34 spread on the glass while UVA Wise made just 12-of-23 free throw attempts in the loss.

Ross led the Cavs in scoring with 20 points while senior Ada Stanley enjoyed one of the more complete games of her career. The forward finished with 13 points, eight rebounds, five assists two blocks and a pair of steals.

UVA Wise made a trio of 3-pointers in the game, senior guard Hanna Oliver and Ross each made three long range shots.

Jalia Arnwine finished with 18 points, Maddie Sutton posted a double-double with 15 points and 14 rebounds and Marta Rodrigues netted 12 points to join Miller in double figure scoring for Tusculum.

The win was the second consecutive to start the season for the Pioneers, it marks the first time since 2017 the program has started 2-0 in league play.

UVA Wise will open up the home portion of its schedule Saturday against Coker. Tip-off from the Prior Center is slated for 2 p.m. and fans can watch the game live as part of the Cavalier Sports Network (uvawisecavs.com) or listen live on FM 92.5 WLSD or online at wlsdradio.com