LAKELAND - After watching Lenoir-Rhyne coast to a 43-20 halftime advantage, the Moccasins made a furious second-half rally, but fell short, as the Bears held on for an 84-80 victory in the final game of the Holiday Inn South Classic at Jenkins Field House Thursday night.

With Michaela Hawley and Chelsea Johnson combining for 36 points in the second half, the Moccasins twice were able to get as close as one point. A layup by Hawley with 3:34 left made it 73-72, then another Hawley basket made it 75-74 at the 2:36 mark, but the Bears were able to make enough free throws, seven of 12, to maintain the lead down the stretch and preserve their ninth win in 10 games. The loss was the Moccasins' second in 10 games.

Two lengthy first-half scoring droughts proved costly for the Moccasins. Early in the game they went over five minutes without scoring, as they saw a 5-2 lead turn into a 12-5 deficit. Later in the half they went scoreless for over eight minutes, missing 10 straight shots, as the Bears expanded a 19-12 lead to a 35-12 advantage.

The Mocs shot just 24 percent from the field in the first half, while the Bears shot 53 percent.

After the Bears went ahead by 25 in the opening seconds of the second half, the Moccasins began their surge. They cut the lead to 10 points, 50-40, at the 13:43 mark and kept chipping away until they got as close as one point at two different times, but never were able to pull even or take the lead.

Hawley finished with 26 points, matching her season scoring high, and Johnson added 23. Alli Fogle and Nicolle DiRaimo each scored 11. Denise Moore led the Bears with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Whitley Culler tossed in 12 points off the bench.

In Thursday's first game, Millersville prevailed 55-44 over Saint Leo in an error-plagued game that saw the two teams combine for 54 turnovers.

The Moccasins resume play on Jan. 3 with a Sunshine State Conference game against Florida Tech at 5:30 p.m. at Jenkins Field House.