The Hawks (3-5) avenged a three-point loss to the Lady Bulldogs (4-4) earlier in the season as junior Talaya Lynch hit a pair of late free throws and Barton missed its last six shots in the final 40 seconds including a potential game-tying three-pointer off a steal by junior Elaine Morgan as the final buzzer sounded.
A season-worst 24-percent (18-of-75) shooting performance by the Lady Bulldogs doomed Barton from the onset. Chowan survived despite 32 turnovers including 18 miscues in the second half by swishing 45.5% (20-of-44) of its shots.
Lynch and Jennings carried the Hawks offense with 18 and 16, points, respectively. Both flirted with double-doubles and Jennings grabbed nine rebounds and Lynch pulled down eight boards.
Barton balanced its sporadic scoring as junior Elaine Morgan and sophomore Nyeshea Willie each had 11 points; juniors Faith Hunter and Shante Neal both bucketed 10 points; and junior Alexa Tovella totaled eight points in her first game action of the season.
Neal pulled down a game-high 13 rebounds for her first double-double as Barton dominated the backboards 54-40. Morgan and Willie added eight boards apiece.
The Lady Bulldogs were held to a frigid 17.6% shooting in the first half going 6-of-34 from the floor. Chowan took advancing sinking 44% (11-of-25) of its shots to take a 10-point halftime advantage. Barton made only two of its first 18 shots as the Hawks flew out to their largest lead of 13 (23-10) at the 7:13 mark.
Junior center Janae Jackson made the Bulldogs last two field goals of the first half including a short jumper as time expired to close the gap to 31-21 at halftime. Morgan led all players into the locker room with seven points.
Barton – averaging 19 turnovers per game before tipoff – committed 15 mistakes in the first half with the absence of senior guard Jannetta Robinson, who is recovering from an injury suffered late in Saturday's game at Clayton State University. The Hawks turned the 15 turnovers into nine extra points. Chowan's much deeper bench outscored BC's reserves 31-3 in the opening 20 minutes.
The visitors made things interesting by setting the tone with an 8-4 start the second half that featured two made field goals in the first minute and capped by four consecutive made free throws by Hunter. Chowan regained a double-digit lead with the next six points.
Barton followed with a 13-2 rally that pulled the Lady Bulldogs to within one. Neal nailed a jumper to finish off the rally at 47-46 with 6:28 left. The Hawks kept a slim lead for the next five-plus minutes.
A Hunter 15-footer from the left wing once again inched Barton to within one as the clock ticked inside the final minute before Willie made two free throws with 50 seconds left to give BC its only lead at 59-58.
Jennings answered by driving the right lane and making an up-and-under scoop layup that put Chowan on top for good with 40 seconds left. Barton's next shot was blocked by freshman Summer Curtis and Lynch then made two free throws for the hosts. The Bulldogs decided to go for a quick two points but the shot and the next three attempts off a trio of offensive boards were all off target. Barton's last chance came as Morgan made a steal with Barton's full-court press but her quick NBA-range trey as time expired rattled off the rim.
Barton wraps up play in 2011 with a home game against non-conference Fayetteville State University on Saturday at 2 p.m.
