Basketball (W)

February 10, 2010

Newberry Uses Late Run to Send Women's Basketball to Third Straight Defeat

NEWBERRY, SC -- Newberry used a late 7-0 run in the final three minutes to grab a 63-57 win over visiting Catawba in South Atlantic Conference women’s basketball action on Wednesday night at Eleazer Arena.  Newberry maintains a share of the league lead as they improve to 16-6 overall and 9-3 in the SAC.  The Catawba Indians drop their third straight in falling to 13-9 and 6-5.

Catawba, playing without leading scorer and rebounder Dana Hicks (York, SC/Gaston Day), got nice efforts from a pair of freshman post players in Elizabeth Merritt (Lexington, NC/E. Davidson HS) and Taylor May (China Grove, NC/S. Rowan HS).  Merritt would deliver eight points and 10 rebounds, while May had five points and five rebounds.  Nisha Long (Dallas, NC/Gaston Day) led the Lady Indians with 15 points with Brooke Whitley (New London, NC/N. Stanly HS) following with 10.  Hicks was nursing a heel injury which has limited her over the previous two games.

The Lady Indians battled back from a 39-31 deficit with 15 minutes left and took a lead at 43-41 on a layup by Long with 12:01 remaining.  Milica Ivanovic (Belgrade, SERBIA/Sports High/Bethel) pulled Catawba even at 46-all with 7:59 to go, but Newberry scored six straight to go on top 52-46 with 6:16 left.

Long scored four straight points as Catawba drew within 52-50 with 2:58 remaining.  Amy Browne started the seven-point spurt for Newberry with a pair of free throws at the 2:37 mark.  Browne added a jumper with 1:25 to go and Anita Bulcher a three-point play with 39 seconds left for a 59-50 edge.  Whitley scored four points to cut the deficit to 59-54 with 19 seconds remaining, but it was not enough.

Bucher led Newberry, posting a double-double with 15 points and 15 rebounds while blocking five shots.  LeAnne Watson also had a double-double, scoring 12 points and grabbing 12 boards.  Brown joined Bulcher with 15 points and Helen McKinney tossed in 10.

Both teams shot 33%, but Catawba fell off to just 28% in the second half.  The Lady Indians did a nice job on the boards, holding a 47-44 edge over the SAC’s top rebounding squad. 

Box Score