Grahm Smith's Lenoir-Rhyne squad is in the midst of playing four games in six days. The Bears began the stretch with a double overtime victory over Anderson before falling to Newberry 72-61 Monday. The team plays UVA Wise at home Wednesday before heading to Coker Thursday to complete one of the most intense weeks any team will face this season. Lenoir-Rhyne is led by Freshman of the Year candidate Emily Harman. The 5-foot-6 guard leads her team in scoring (14.9 ppg), rebounding (7.1 rpg) and assists (4.1 apg). Saturday, the Chesapeake, Va. product scored a season-high 33 points while grabbing a season-best 11 rebounds as she logged all 50 minutes in the 83-70 win over Anderson. In the first meeting between Lenoir-Rhyme and UVA Wise, Harman scored a team-high 16 points, grabbed seven rebounds, dished out seven assists and tallied two steals. The Bears have been solid this season at not beating themselves. The team enters its game with UVA Wise third in the league for fewest turnovers (14.6 per game) while ranking fourth in free-throw percentage (.726).

In a battle for a bye in the upcoming SAC Tournament and looking to stay in contention for an at large berth in the NCAA Tournament, UVA Wise begins the biggest four-game stretch of the NCAA Division II era of the program starting Wednesday. Jamie Cluesman's crew is currently in third place in the league standings, the last spot that will receive a bye in the conference tournament that begins later this month. Additionally, it would appear that the SAC will be a multi-bid league to the NCAA Tournament, putting extra emphasis on each game the Cavaliers play down the stretch. Last time out, sophomore guard Caitlyn Ross poured in a career-high 28 points as UVA Wise completed a season-series sweep of Queens with a 73-61 win. The 5-foot-6 Ross is averaging 26 points, nine rebounds and 9.5 assists over her last two outings. Fellow sophomore Nia Vanzant has been hammering the boards. Vanzant grabbed a career-high 12 boards Wednesday as part of her first double-double of the season. The Cavs have several games to play before the season concludes a week from Wednesday. In addition to the game at Lenoir-Rhyne, UVA Wise entertains Wingate Saturday, visits Mars Hill Monday and wraps up the regular season Feb. 24 at home against Tusculum. The run to the end of the regular season also presents the opportunity to finish with the highest in conference winning percentage since joining NCAA Division II. The 2017 team posted a 15-7 (.682) league mark inside the Mountain East Conference.