HARROGATE, Tenn. - - Host Lincoln Memorial University shot 53.2 percent from the floor en route to a 72-67 South Atlantic Conference women's basketball victory over UVA Wise at Tex Turner Arena Wednesday.

LMU (5-5, 3-4 SAC) led for the majority of the contest but, it was the third quarter that proved to be fatal to UVA Wise's (3-7, 3-5 SAC) demise.

LMU shot 57.1 percent from the floor in the period while connecting on a quartet of 3-pointers. Arguably, one of the more important plays came from neither team, yet a clerical error. With the Cavaliers trailing 41-36, Nia Vanzant rebounded a Railsplitters miss and headed up court. With her club already in the bonus the 78 percent foul shooter was fouled but was not awarded two free throws.

The sequence would eventually prove to be monumental thanks to a valiant comeback by UVA Wise.

Jamie Cluesman's crew trailed by 10 with less than nine minutes to play but would have the margin trimmed to three with 2:43 to play thanks to a bucket by Vanzant. The remainder of the game would be played between one and two possessions but with less than a minute to play, the Cavs would be forced to foul.

LMU would go to the charity stripe 14 times in the final 10 minutes, converting on eight of the chances to ice the game away.

The 'Splitters Mikayla Kuehne led all players with 23 points. The guard made 7-of-9 field goal attempts and added six assists and four rebounds to her stat line. Lauren Flowers was equally efficient from the floor; Flowers made 6-of-8 shot attempts en route to 16 points, she added a game-best seven rebounds.

Vanzant tallied 21 points for UVA Wise, she was joined in double figure scoring by Mackenzie King who netted a season-high 16 points and Caitlyn Ross who chipped in 13 points. Ross and Kalee Johnson fouled out of the contest combining to play just 44 minutes. Freshman Josie Hester came off the bench to sink a trio of 3-pointers to register a season-high nine points.

The Cavs made 10 3-pointers in the game, the number represents the most makes from beyond the arc this season.

UVA Wise will wrap up play in 2021 Saturday when the squad visits nationally ranked and SAC leader Catawba in a 2 p.m. tip. Fans can listen to the game live on FM 92.5 or online at wlsdradio.com