Staff report

ROCK HILL, S.C. — Lyrik Thorne was at her best on Tuesday, and Catawba’s women’s basketball handled UVA Wise 96-78 in a fast-paced quarterfinal in the South Atlantic Conference Tournament.

Thorne, two-time SAC Player of the Year and also SAC Defensive Player of the Year, had one of her hot shooting days, 8-for-14, with five triples, for 24 points. She had 10 assists and six rebounds as the Indians kicked off the postseason successfully.

The top-seeded Indians (23-4) took a 31-13 lead after a quarter and carried a 51-40 lead to halftime. Catawba maintained at least an eight-point bulge throughout the second half and led by as many as 25.

Janiya Downs and Nala Baker added 15 points each.

Sara McIntosh had 12 points and eight rebounds. Janiya Foskey scored nine points.

Catawba shot well — 48 percent — and made 12 3-pointers.

Eighth-seeded UVA Wise finished 12-17.

Next for the Indians is a semifinal on Thursday at noon. They’ll play the 4 vs. 5 winner.

UVA Wise     13   27   19   19    — 78

Catawba        31   20    20  25   — 96

CATAWBA — Thorne 24, Davis 15, Baker 15, McIntosh 12, Foskey 9, Porter 7, Spry 6, Wilson 5, Helpman 3.