BLUEFIELD, Va. -- A Sharonda Tate layin with 3:53 remaining pulled the Bluefield College women's basketball team within one, but five-straight points from visiting Appalachian Athletic Conference opponent Reinhardt University provided the Lady Eagles the boost to a 59-53 victory, Saturday afternoon.

Tate's score made it 48-47, RU, but a three from Radville Autukaite and a Kateca Favors layin extended the lead to 53-47. Maryah Mazyck scored an old-fashioned three-point play to make it a 53-50 game before Reinhardt closed the game at the free throw line, going 6-for-7 over the final 1:46.

Bluefield's lone double-digit scorer was Destiny Tolliver, as the center poured in 20 points on 9-for-18 shooting, while adding two at the charity stripe. She also grabbed a team-high nine rebounds. Jade McDaniel had a hot start with three first-half triples, but wouldn't add any more the rest of the way. Whitney Smith chipped in eight points, and also added six assists.

April Besley paced the Reinhardt squad with 19 points and a game-high 14 rebounds to help RU to the 41-29 edge on the glass. Her 17 first-half points led RU to a 32-27 lead at halftime. Erika Woodfin added 12 points on four triples, while Autukaite scored 10 points off the bench, including eight-straight in the second half when Bluefield made its run.

While Bluefield connected on more field goals (21-20) than the Lady Eagles, the visitors were able to outscore Bluefield 14-5 at the free-throw line. Reinhardt finished 14-for-16 at the stripe, while BC went just 5-for-9.

Bluefield returns to action at the Dome on Sunday afternoon, hosting West Virginia Tech for a 3 p.m. tip.