ANDERSON, S.C. - - For the first time since Nov. 24, the women's basketball team at UVA Wise has suffered a defeat as Anderson controlled the interior en route to a 79-66 South Atlantic Conference victory at the Abney Athletic Center Saturday. The Trojans won the battle of the boards 52-to-31 while shooting 49.2 percent from the floor as Jonathon Barbaree's team won its second consecutive game.

Anderson (11-6, 10-5 SAC) opened the game on an 8-0 run and built its lead to as many as 12 points in the first half before UVA Wise (10-2, 9-2 SAC) began battling back.

A pair of 3-pointers by Mackenzie King and a bucket each by Nia Vanzant and Kalee Johnson spurred a run that cut the Trojans' lead to one at 34-33 with just over two minutes to play in the opening half.

UVA Wise took its first lead of the game moments later when Ada Stanley sank a pair of free throws. It would be the first of six lead changes in the game. Anderson would take a one-point lead to intermission when Taylor Hair's shot went through the net as the hosts took a 38-37 lead.

The entire third period would be played within a six-point window as the Trojans went to the fourth quarter holding a 55-51 advantage.

Anderson forward Samantha Michel would take control in the fourth quarter as she scored six points in a two-minute stretch to push her team's lead to 12 at 66-54 with less than five minutes to play.

Michel finished the game with 18 points and 14 rebounds while teammate McKenzie Gadson also posted a double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds.

Hair (16), J'Mya Cutter (12) and Brittney Bailey (10) also finished in double-figure scoring for Anderson who improved to 3-0 all-time against UVA Wise.

Johnson recorded her third consecutive double-double in the loss. The senior scored 17 points and grabbed 10 rebounds; she was joined in double figures by Vanzant's team-high 18 points, Caitlyn Ross' 13 points and King's 12 points.

The Cavs finished the game just 3-of-18 from the 3-point line in the loss, including an 0-of-8 showing in the final 20 minutes.

Next up, UVA Wise hosts Carson-Newman Wednesday at the Prior Center. Tip is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. and the game can be heard live on FM 92.5 WLSD or wlsdradio.com