Box Score WILSON, N.C.-Top-seeded Barton College blasted off to a quick lead Friday night and never trailed in dispensing of fifth-seeded Queens University of Charlotte, 85-63, in the Conference Carolinas Tournament Women's Basketball semifinals in Wilson Gymnasium.
The Lady Bulldogs of 22nd-year head coach Wendee Saintsing are ranked sixth in the NCAA DII Southeast Region and improved to 24-4 overall (tying the school record for wins). Queens, which suffered its third loss this season to Barton, finished its year at 14-14.
Barton will now host the Conference Carolinas Championship at 2 p.m. Sunday against second-seeded Mount Olive, a 78-70 winner over third-seeded Limestone.
League Freshman of the Year Nyeshea Willie (Virginia Beach, Va.) led Barton with 19 points, seven assists and seven rebounds. Senior all-conference first-teamer Jamila Johnson (Garner, N.C.) added 16 points, six assists and three steals; senior center Kelsey Sill (Raleigh, N.C.) swished 15 points; and sophomore Faith Hunter (Raleigh, N.C.) tallied 10 points.
Barton bolted to a 6-2 lead behind a jumper and layup from Sill and a jumper from speedy sophomore guard Jannetta Robinson (Willard, N.C.). The lead grew to 11 points at 17-6 on a layup by sophomore forward Shante Neal (Spring Hope, N.C.).
Inspired play from Queens forward Shonice Pettaway (Walstonburg, N.C.), who poured in 17 first-half points, kept the Royals within striking distance and they closed the gap to just five points at 23-18 on a 3-pointer from freshman Melissa Thomas (Havelock, N.C.) midway through the half.
That was the closest Queens would get to overtaking the Lady Bulldogs for the remainder of the game. With 9:40 left in the first half, Queens had hit 8-of-9 shots, but also had 10 turnovers against Barton's defense and trailed 26-18. By halftime, the Lady Bulldogs' lead was 43-34.
A layup from Sill and a jumper by Robinson pushed the cushion to 13 points on the first two possessions of the second half and Queens never got within single digits the rest of the game.
Barton employed a matchup zone to confuse the Royals early in the game and varied its defenses throughout. Getting off to a good start was crucial, said Coach Saintsing.
"I think we were more focused than we have been in the past couple of weeks," she said. "We look like we're really ready to win a championship, so we're excited about that. We started out playing well and just stayed there. Everybody got mentally into the game and was intense. We just had everyone playing well and then everybody who came off the bench did their jobs and played well."
Pettaway got into foul trouble early in the second half, so she only wound up with four second-half points and a game-high 21 on 9-of-13 shooting. Thomas tallied 10 points for Queens, which finished 25-of-63 from the floor for 39.7 percent. Barton canned 32-of-66 shots for 48.5-percent accuracy and nailed 16-of-21 foul shots for 76.2 percent.
Barton also dominated the boards 43-35, led by sophomore Jolanda Mitchell (Raleigh, N.C.) with nine and Shelton and Willie with seven apiece.
