COLUMBIA, Ky.- The Blue Raider women's basketball team defeated Reinhardt (Ga.) 68-50 on the first day of the UC Bank Classic in Biggers Sports Center. 

Meadow Tisdale and Natalie Gentry led the offense with 12 and 10 points, respectively. Tisdale shot 50 percent from the field, connecting on 4-of-5 from the charity stripe while Gentry came off the bench converting on 5-of-7 shots. Saniyah Shelton posted a nine point, eight rebound night, accompanied by Isabel Garcia who picked up five steals. LWU shot 81.8 percent from the free throw line, connecting on 18-of-22 opportunities. 

Lindsey Wilson opened the game on a 7-0 run that was sparked by a Jarie Thomas jumper at 9:40  that was assisted by Tisdale, followed by a Tisdale layup, and Shelton three that was assisted by Amelia Hodges. Two free throws from Claire Fleming at 7:46 sparked a 7-2 Blue Raider run that extended the lead to 14-4 with 4:53 remaining in the first. With 1:28 on the clock, Reinhardt's Lana VanDyke converted on two free throws to cut the LWU advantage to a one possession game at 16-13. Lindsey Wilson closed the quarter on a 4-2 run to extend the lead back to 20-15. 

Tisdale opened the second quarter offense getting deep into the paint for a layup at 9:22. Fleming was able to navigate through traffic to find an open Thomas for a short corner jumper at 7:55 to grow the lead to 24-17. A three from Hodges at 6:03 extended the lead to double digits for a 29-19 advantage. The Blue Raiders ended the half on a 12-5 run with Hodges and Emma Barnett contributing six points apiece, giving LWU a 38-24 edge headed into the lockerroom. 

Thomas converted on a jumper at 8:00 on an assist from Tisdale, followed by a Tisdale layup on an assist from Shelton at 6:38 for a 42-28 lead. After a back and forth trading of baskets, the Eagles closed out the third quarter on a 10-9 run, resulting in a 54-38 sway in favor of the Blue Raiders. 

After a scoring drought to start the final ten minutes of action, Emily Cox found herself at the free throw line at 7:47 and converted on both free throws to grow the Blue Raider lead to 56-40. LWU went on to outscore the Eagles 14 to 12 to close out the game, taking the 68-50 win to improve to 4-1 on the season. 

Women's hoops will be back in action on Saturday at 3 P.M. CT for day two of the UC Bank Classic to face the University of Tennessee Southern in Biggers Sports Center.