Box Score SPARTANBURG, S.C.-Freshman guard Nyeshea Willie tallied game-high totals of 17 points and six steals, leading the Lady Bulldogs to a 79-51 conquest of Converse College Tuesday as Barton College captured its third consecutive Conference Carolinas regular season title.
The senior duo of 5-foot-8 point guard Jamila Johnson (Garner, N.C.) and 6-2 center Kelsey Sill (Raleigh, N.C.) helped secure their third straight title under the direction of 21st year head coach Wendee Saintsing with 12 and 11 points, respectively.
Johnson, Sill, and junior college transfer Shawnta Shelton (Greensboro, N.C.) will all be honored during Barton's "Senior Night" on Saturday when the Lady Bulldogs wrap up regular season play against Limestone College at 5:30 p.m.
No. 5 Southeast Region ranked Barton (22-3 Overall; 18-1 Conf.) capped a perfect 10-0 road record in league play with Tuesday's win in Hannah Gym. Converse (4-22, 4-15) was eliminated from postseason consideration with the loss.
The Bulldogs scored the first nine points and never trailed. Converse committed 22 of its 37 turnovers in the first 20 minutes as Barton pulled out to a 43-25 halftime advantage. A sophomore Shante Neal (Spring Hope, N.C.) layup pushed the visitors lead to 34 (77-43) before coasting to the win and the title.
Willie (Virginia Beach, Va.) scored her game-high 17 points on 7-of-12 precision. Neal and junior Jannetta Robinson (Willard, N.C.) both bucketed eight points. Shelton added seven points and BCs only two made 3-pointers.
Robinson set up the Bulldogs offense with a season-best eight assists. Robinson and sophomore Jolanda Mitchell (Raleigh, N.C.) led Barton with seven rebounds apiece.
Sophomore Katy Vaughn (Lebanon, Tenn.) was the only Valkyrie in the double figures with 12 points. Twelve rebounds by senior Morgan Sacharski (Sussex, Wis.) and eight by Vaughn helped Converse to a 51-50 rebounding edge.
Barton converted 37 Valkyries turnovers into 34 points. The Bulldogs bench outscored the hosts reserves 36-24. BC shot 37.8% and Converse was held to 31.7% accuracy.
