GREENEVILLE, Tenn. - A scoring outburst early in the first half gave Tusculum a double-digit lead and the Pioneers defeated Anderson, 76-52, in South Atlantic Conference women's basketball action Wednesday night at Pioneer Arena.

In the first meeting between the two teams since January 17, 1998, Tusculum (9-6, 5-2 SAC), the defending conference tournament and reigning Southeast Region champions, opened a four-game homestand by posting a 17-3 run over a six-minute span in the first half to break open a close contest and take a 24-8 lead midway through the frame.

Anderson (6-0, 2-5 SAC) trimmed the deficit to 13 points twice late in the half, but would get no closer as the Pioneers held a 37-21 edge at intermission and was unable to overcome TC's season-high 57.7 percent shooting from the field

Ashley Abed led the Trojans with 17 points and shared team-high rebounding honors with Tilde Ahlin, as each pulled down five boards.

Senior guard Jasmine Gunn scored a game-high 21 points and dished out eight assists for the Pioneers, while senior center Catherine Hintz was a perfect 7-for-7 from the field and tallied a season-high 17 points. Sophomore guard Kendal Baxter added 15 points for Tusculum, which won its third straight game and moved into a three-way tie for first place in the SAC with Mars Hill and Catawba.

Anderson will get back on the hardwood on Saturday, when the Trojans play host to Carson-Newman. Tip-off versus the Eagles is scheduled for 2 p.m. at the Abney Athletic Center.