L-R forward Lauren Arnold (West Rowan)

Staff report

HICKORY — Lauren Arnold, who starred on West Rowan’s back-to-back state champion basketball teams, will make her debut for the Lenoir-Rhyne Bears on Saturday at home against USC Aiken.

Arnold had a quiet freshman year at Mars Hill, playing in 20 games and averaging 3.5 points and 4.0 rebounds, while shooting 39.7 percent from the field.

She scored a season-high 12 points in the South Atlantic Conference Tournament against Anderson.

Mars Hill head coach Emmy Tsitouris, a former Catawba assistant, was hired to lead the Bears in June, and about half of the Lions roster followed her to L-R, including Arnold.

A breakout sophomore season is likely for Arnold, a 5-foot-11 forward who is on the preseason SAC Players to Watch List, along wit

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