By JOE BYRD

Sports Writer

Jasmine Gunn poured in 20 second half points to lead No. 13 Tusculum to a 79-72 victory at home Saturday over Lenoir-Rhyne in a showdown that was every inch a battle between two teams at the top of the South Atlantic Conference.

Sitting out all but four minutes of the first half with foul trouble, Gunn said it was frustrating to watch the Lady Pioneers slug it out with one of the top teams in the conference and not contribute.

But when she got back on the floor after Tusculum took a narrow 36-33 lead into the dressing room, contribute in a big way is what Gunn did.

She finished the game with 24 points, four assists, four rebounds and two steals.

"We have been working hard all work," Gunn said. "We've been going at it, working on defense, working on offense, especially half court. To come out here, play our game and get a win is awesome."

Tusculum coach Missy Tiber put it simply.

"As she goes, we usually do," Tiber said about Gunn.

The win keeps Tusculum atop the South Atlantic Conference standings at 11-1, 2-0. Lenoir-Rhyne is 11-2, 1-1. Tiber said the Lady Pioneers knew going into Saturday's game that a win now was vital.

"It's very important," Tiber said. "Our goal is to win every conference game at home. When we go to their place, it's going to be a tough time and really tough to win so it was crucial we play well here today and get the win."

Stephany Neptune scored 15 for Tusculum. Staci Hicks led the game in rebounding with nine.

Lenoir-Rhyne was paced by 20 points from Brittany Mitch.

The game was a battle with the score tied at 72 with 1:49 to play. The intensity level was high on all fronts, with the game even having to be halted at one point because the two head coaches were having a go at one another from opposite ends of the press table.

Tiber said it was just a matter of two teams fighting hard for the upper hand in the conference.

"These are two teams that will definitely be in Hickory and have the opportunity to win a championship," she said. "It's good. It's fun. I love the intensity, and this is what it's all about."

Tusculum travels to LMU on Wednesday.

LENOIR-RHYNE (11-2, 1-1 SAC): Mitch 6-10 6-7 20; Holt 5-13 1-3 12; Fulmer 2-4 6-6 10; Moore 5-9 0-4 10; Sealey 3-10 1-3 7; Rann 2-9 1-1 5; Culler 2-5 0-2 4; Pearson 1-2 0-0 2; Kremer 1-3 0-0 2. Totals 27-65 15-26 72.

TUSCULUM (11-1, 2-0 SAC): Gunn 9-13 6-7 24; Van Dine 6-9 0-0 15; Neptune 7-13 1-2 15; Spears 4-6 0-0 8; Parker 3-6 1-2 7; Hicks 2-2 2-5 6; Hintz 1-3 0-0 2; French 0-1 2-2 2; A.Oliver 0-4 0-0 0; Shank 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 32-58 12-18 79.

Halftime: Tusculum 36, Lenoir-Rhyne 33

3-point goals--Lenoir-Rhyne 3-15 (Mitch 2-3; Holt 1-4; Sealey 0-2; Rann 0-4; Culler 0-1; Fulmer 0-1), Tusculum 3-12 (Van Dine 3-6; Parker 0-1; French 0-1; Oliver 0-4). Rebounds--Lenoir-Rhyne 34 (Moore 7; Mitch 7), Tusculum 40 (Hicks 9). Assists--Lenoir-Rhyne 12 (Culler 3), Tusculum 15 (Parker 5). Total fouls--Lenoir-Rhyne 20, Tusculum 25.