Anderson University let a 15-point first-half lead slip away, but recovered behind a big second-half run to defeat Tusculum College 80-57 in South Atlantic Conference Women's basketball action Wednesday night at the Abney Athletic Center.

The Trojans (15-12, 11-10 SAC) trailed 36-34 with 16:55 left, but outscored the Pioneers 33-8 over the next 10 minutes to lock up the win along with a berth in next week's Food Lion SAC Tournament. Four players reached double figures for Anderson, led by 14 points and eight rebounds from Katie Davis and 11 points by Lesley Woods.

The Pioneers (8-17, 8-13 SAC) used a 21-4 run spanning halftime to turn a 30-15 deficit into a two-point lead, but could not overcome 29.7 percent shooting from the field in the game. Nequoiah Anderson scored a game-high 20 points to become the first Pioneer since All-American Jasmine Gunn to score 20 or more points in four straight games, while SAC rebounding leader Kristen McMillion had a game-high 17 boards.

Despite the loss, the Pioneers remained alive for the eighth and final spot in the SAC Tournament with Coker's 48-41 loss at Lenoir-Rhyne. The Pioneers trail the Cobras by one game heading into Saturday's season finale between the teams at Pioneer Arena, and a Tusculum win would give them the tiebreaker over Coker by virtue of a sweep of the season series.

Tusculum trailed 30-15 with 4:34 left in the first half, but outscored Anderson 13-4 to end the first half and 8-0 to start the second half, taking a 36-34 lead on a layup by Shynese Whitener with 16:55 to go. However, the Trojans scored six straight points to kickstart a 33-8 spurt that turned a two-point deficit into a 23-point lead at 67-44 with 6:43 left.

As a team, the Trojans shot 46.9 percent (15-for-32) from the field in the second half, with Davis doing most of her damage with 12 points and eight rebounds in 12 minutes of playing time. Overall, Anderson finished the game at 41.8 percent (28-for-67) from the field, including 7-for-18 from three-point range.

Also reaching double figures for the Pioneers were Maelyn Cutshaw and Whitener, who scored 12 points apiece. McMillion's 17 rebounds marked the 12th time in the last 13 games and the 18th time this season she reached double figures on the glass. Over the last four games, McMillion is averaging 17.8 rebounds per game.

The 20 points from Anderson marked the fifth time in the last six games and the seventh time in nine games that she scored 20 or more points in a game. She went 8-for-8 from the foul line to extend her streak of consecutive made free throws to 19 in a row over the last three games.

As a team, Anderson finished the game with a 47-44 rebounding edge, led by 10 boards from Sierra Simpson to go along with a game-high six assists. Joining Davis and Woods in double figures were Jasmine Franklin, with 12 points off the bench, and Emily Willoughby with 12 points along with five rebounds. Alexis Dillard had nine rebounds to go along with seven points in 14 minutes off the bench for the Trojans.

Anderson jumped out to a 7-2 lead after 2 1/2 minutes and held a 13-10 advantage with 12:35 to go in the first half. From there, the Trojans rattled off 10 straight points, capped by back-to-back three-pointers that gave Anderson a 23-10 lead with 7:34 to play in the half.

A three-pointer from Woods gave the Trojans their largest lead of the first half at 30-15 with 4:34 remaining, but the Pioneers closed with a 13-4 run to cut the margin to six at the break. Anderson scored six of the final nine points for the Pioneers, including four free throws in the final 13 seconds to make it a 34-28 game at the break.

Anderson paced the Pioneers with 13 points in the first half, including a 6-for-6 effort at the foul line. Tusculum shot 29 percent from the field as a team and committed 12 turnovers, while the Trojans shot 37.1 percent (13-for-35) including 4-for-11 from three-point range. Woods paced the Trojans with nine points on 3-for-5 shooting from long range.

The Pioneers' game against Coker will tip off at 2 p.m. Saturday at Pioneer Arena. Prior to the game, the team will honor Anderson as she plays her final home game in a Tusculum uniform.