Harrogate, February 2nd- The Lincoln Memorial University Railsplitters welcomed South Atlantic Conference foe and rival Tusculum Pioneers into Tex Turner Arena for a double header of basketball. The opening game of the night featured the Lady Railsplitters and the Lady Pioneers both looking for a needed conference win. Tusculum (12-6) (8-2) was looking to stay on top of the conference with a win over the (8-10) (3-7) Lady Railsplitters who were needing a big conference win themselves.

The Lady Railsplitters went on a 6-0 opening run to start the game behind Whitney Holmes, Melanie Hemphill and Dayshalee Salaman. With 10:01 remaining LMU gave up the lead on a basket in the paint. It was the first basket in several minutes of play as neither team could produce a score. The slow-paced game went back and forth on the scoreboard for the remainder of the half. Patrice Talley had her hands full at the end of the first half trying to guard the intimidating 6'-8" Catherine Hintz and did a nice job by keeping her to only 8-first half points. At the halftime break the score was 22-20 in favor of the home team. Dayshalee Salaman led the Lady Splitters in first half scoring with 10-points and wowed the crowd with a last second shot that was over half-court in length that was deemed by the officials to be released just a little after the buzzer. When the second half started the two teams once again went back and forth on the scoreboard and were playing the kind of game LMU needed to spring the upset. With 14:52 left in the contest the game was tied again this time at 28. From the fans standpoint this was a boring style of game but it was working in the home team's favor. With 11:31 remaining the visiting Lady Pioneers held a 2-point advantage at 34-32. At the 10:07 mark, LMU had erased a 4-point lead that Tusculum had built up and the game was tied yet again this time at 36. Talley ran the floor and got several important scores with Hintz trailing her. Talley's hustle was instrumental in keeping the Splitters close. Melanie Hemphill worked hard in the paint and gave the Splitters a 3-point lead at 44-41 with 2:09 remaining. With 51-seconds left LMU turned the ball over and fouled Jasmine Gunn to put her on the charity stripe. She made both shots and LMU's lead was now only one. Another foul put Tusculum on the line shooting the tying but missing the go-ahead point. It was overtime at Tex Turner Arena with the teams tied at 44 after regulation. LMU struck first with a score in overtime but as the time ticked away LMU found themselves down by 4-points at 52-48. With less than a minute left LMU would have to score fast and get some luck with missed Tusculum free throws. The Splitters missed three shots late and had to foul. The game ended at 53-51. Tusculum took home a good win over the persistent Lady Railsplitters. Salaman led the Splitters in scoring with 15-points.

The 6th ranked men's team took to the floor next with their undefeated record. Sitting at 18-0 the Splitters were ready to chalk up conference win number 11, but first they had to take care of business on the floor. Just as in the earlier game in Tusculum the Pioneers hung right there with the Splitters. At 11:36 the Splitters were down by one. Cameron Carden and D'Mario Curry gave the Splitters the spark that Put them ahead by a score of 21-17 with 7:52 left in the opening half. LMU went on a 9-point run and moved the score out to 30-17 with 3:54 left. When the first half ended the Splitters led by a score of 36-24. Curry and Desmond Johnson were taken completely out of the game during the opening half as they both were held scoreless. Carden took up the slack by scoring 16-points. The Splitters shot 61% from the floor and held a 13-point lead at the 4:04 mark. Coming out of the break the Splitters started off slow in comparison to how the first half had ended. The momentum of the game continued in the Splitters favor and at the 8:46 mark the score was 56-33. The Railsplitters kept a 20-point lead much of the second half. With only 1:37 left the score was 64-43. At the buzzer LMU had made another tick mark in the winners column by a score of 64-47. Leading the Splitters in scoring was Cam Carden with 26-points including seven three pointers. Vincent Bailey and Brandon Armstrong both helped out with 10-points each. LMU standout D'Mario Curry did not score but only played seven minutes. With the win the 6th ranked Railsplitters move their stellar record on out to 19-0.