February 3, 2010

Waldroup Photogallery...

MARS HILL, N.C. – The Newberry women's basketball team held off Mars Hill 79-71 on Wednesday night inside Stanford Arena. Newberry improves to 15-5 overall and 8-2 in the South Atlantic Conference. The Lions drop to 4-17 overall and 1-9 in the SAC.

Newberry led for most of the first half. Mars Hill's first lead in the first half came at the 14:30 mark off a layup by Katie Buckner (Canton, Ga.). Her drive to the basket made the score 12-11.

Newberry took a six-point lead at the midway point when Helen McKinney (Owensboro, Ky.) hit a three.

Newberry matched its largest lead of the first period off a Jessica Bearzatto (Melbourne, Australia) layup with 5:14 remaining, but Margaret Harvey (Greensboro, N.C.) drained a long trey from the top of the key on the next possession to make the score 33-30 in favor of Newberry.

Krystal Moore (Summerfield, N.C.) hit a running jumper from the baseline to give Mars Hill a 35-34 advantage with three minutes remaining, but the Lions trailed 41-37 at halftime.

Bearzatto and Anita Bulcher (Russia, Ohio) each had 10 points at the break for Newberry. Moore and Brittini Young (Ramseur, N.C.) each had 11 points for the Lions at halftime.

Newberry grabbed its first double-digit lead of the game, 50-40, off a shot from behind the arc by McKinney three minutes into the second half.

Taylor Deal (Catawba, N.C.) drained a short jumper for Mars Hill with 11:57 left in the game to cut the deficit to single digits, 59-50.

Trailing 70-59 with 4:43 left in the game, Young scored five straight points to make the score 70-64 in favor of Newberry. A Harvey layup two minutes later trimmed the Newberry advantage to five points, 71-66, but the Lions would get no closer.

McKinney and Bulcher each had 18 points which led four Newberry players that scored in double-figures. McKinney also had 11 rebounds. Bearzatto had 16 points. Amy Browne (Maroochydore, Australia) had 14 points. LeAnne Watson (Stone Mountain, Ga.) netted nine points and 15 rebounds.

Young scored a game-high 27 points and is now six points away from passing Lee Ann Enix for 17th on the Mars Hill women's basketball all-time scoring list. Moore had 15 points. Deal registered 11 points and eight rebounds.

Newberry outrebounded Mars Hill 50-42, including 16-9 on the offensive glass.

Mars Hill will travel to Carson-Newman on Saturday. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m.

Boxscore...

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