Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 by Kevin Buczek
SALISBURY, N.C.-After dropping a second straight showdown against nationally ranked USC Aiken 68-62 on Saturday, the Barton College women's basketball team defeated host Catawba College 72-69 in the Comfort Suites Classic finale on Sunday afternoon.
The Lady Bulldogs remain over .500 at 3-2 on the early season with both losses coming against the nationally ranked Pacers. Barton returns home for a non-conference clash against Elizabeth City State University on Wednesday, Nov. 30 at 7 p.m.
Sophomore guard Nyeshea Willie (Virginia Beach, Va.) averaged 19.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.0 steals in the Comfort Suites Classic while shooting 54.2% from the field. Junior Faith Hunter (Raleigh, N.C.) bucketed 13.5 points in the two games and senior Jannetta Robinson (Willard, N.C.) averaged 12.5 points.
SATURDAY: #23 USC Aiken 68, Barton 62
The University of South Carolina at Aiken – currently ranked No. 23 in the WBCA USA Today ESPN Coaches Poll – held off Barton for a second straight time in less than a week to improve to 4-1 overall.
Kayla Harris scored a game-high 19 points to help the Pacers prevail by six points.
USCA had a hot hand shooting 54.2% compared to just 39.7% by Barton. The Pacers also controlled the backboards with a 35-29 rebounding edge.
Junior Jolanda Mitchell (Raleigh, N.C.) was one rebound shy of a double-double, scoring 10 points and grabbing a game-high nine boards. Willie led the Lady Bulldogs offensively with 15 points. Hunter canned 12 points and Robinson sank 10.
Robinson added team-best totals of four assists and four steals.
Aiken had a sizable 57-43 lead with 6:12 left but full-court pressure by the Bulldogs forced the Pacers into eight turnovers down the stretch. USCA made just two field goals in the final six minutes, but was saved by going 8-for-9 from the charity stripe.
The Pacers led 37-21 at halftime by firing at 66.7% in the opening 20 minutes while BC was held to 34.8% accuracy.
Willie scored nine of her points in the Bulldogs 21-10 run to close the game including a layup with 15 seconds left to pull Barton within four but a pair of made free throws by the Pacers on the ensuing possession ended the comeback.
SUNDAY: Barton 72, Catawba 69
Willie scored a game-high 24 points and Barton held off a late charge by the Lady Indians as the Lady Bulldogs won a game by a score of 72-69 for the second time in a week.
Barton had its best shooting performance of the season going 46.6-percent from the floor including 51.7% in the second half. Willie sizzled the net going 8-for-12 en route to her season-high 24 points.
Robinson and Hunter each poured in 15 points to help Barton's cause. Junior Janae Jackson (Fort Belvoir, Va.) chipped in nine points and three steals. Classmate Elaine Morgan (Raleigh, N.C.) also swiped the ball three times while handing out a team-high three assists.
Barton led by a dozen at 64-52 with four minutes left, but the Lady Indians fought back and cut the lead to 66-61 with 1:50 to play. Hunter was able to hit a jumper and Barton converted on 5-of-6 at the line to hold on for the three-point win.
The Bulldogs led by as many as 16 and never trailed.
Barton surged midway through the first half, building an 11-10 lead to 24-12 with just four minutes left before the break. Robinson had three buckets in the 13-4 run. Catawba was able to trim the deficit to 28-22 with a jumper just before the buzzer.
The Bulldogs kept a safe lead for most of the second half, going up by 16 with 11:30 remaining at 51-35 after a layup by Willie. A pair of three-pointers helped the Lady Indians get within single digits at 59-51 with 4:56 left before the final flurry that fell short.
