Box Score CHARLOTTE, N.C.-No. 6 Southeast Region ranked Barton College made eight of its nine field goal attempts in overtime to pull out a 97-94 Conference Carolinas victory over host Queens University of Charlotte in "The Oven" Wednesday evening.
Barton made its last four shots in the final two minutes of overtime to win its 14th straight game and 34th consecutive conference regular season tilt. The Lady Bulldogs boast a 20-2 overall record; reaching the 20-win plateau the quickest in head coach Wendee Saintsing's 21 years at the helm.
BC continues its march towards league perfection with a 16-0 conference record. The Bulldogs have four league games left and can claim at least a share of its third consecutive Conference Carolinas regular season title with a home win against Belmont Abbey College on Thursday at 5:30 p.m.
The Lady Bulldogs were arguable in store for their toughest conference road test of the season, returning to the site of Barton's lone league loss last season (Jan. 7, 2010) and the matchup lived up to the hype.
Barton held a 12 point lead midway through the second half but Queens closed regulation on a 20-10 run to force the five-minute overtime period. Freshman Nyeshea Willie (Virginia Beach, Va.) made a pair of free throws in the final minute to put Barton in front 80-78 but a junior Jessica Lewis (Hampton, Va.) game-tying layup with 26 seconds deadlocked the score through 40 minutes.
In overtime sophomore Shante Neal (Spring Hope, N.C.) broke the 13th and final tie by making 1-of-2 free throws and after a Royals turnover junior Jannetta Robinson (Willard, N.C.) made a basket to give the visitors a three-point lead. The Royals pulled to within one with made hoops on its next three possessions but Barton answered each time on baskets by Robinson, senior Jamila Johnson (Garner, N.C.), and Neal to preserve the three-point win.
Willie led five Bulldogs into double figures with 18 points. Johnson swished 16, Neal drained 14, Robinson bucketed 12, and sophomore Faith Hunter (Raleigh, N.C.) chipped in 12.
Willie and Neal both flirted with double-doubles by pulling down nine rebounds apiece as Barton controlled the glass 55-46. Willie swiped a game-high five steals. Johnson, who leads the league in assists, handed out a game-high seven dimes.
Senior forward Marissa Hudley (Charlotte, N.C.) – the only player in the conference averaging a double-double – led Queens with 24 points and 15 rebounds. Lewis chipped in 19 points, seven rebounds, seven assists, and three steals.
The Royals had a hot hand shooting 51.4% (38-of-74) from the floor and 76.2% (16-of-21) from the free throw line. The Bulldogs fired a 42% (37-of-88) on field goals and 70% (21-of-30) on freebees. Queens was victimized by 25 mistakes that led to 25 points off turnovers for Barton.
