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Box Score 2
by Kevin Buczek
SALISBURY, N.C.-Junior Nyeshea Willie led all players in scoring in both of Barton College's games in the Comfort Suites Classic but poor shooting kept the Lady Bulldogs from winning either game in Goodman Gym over the Thanksgiving weekend.
Lenoir-Rhyne University defeated Barton 64-52 in the first game of the invitational on Friday evening and host Catawba College edged the Lady Bulldogs 59-53 in the event's finale on Saturday afternoon.
Willie averaged 24.5 points for the two games. The reigning Conference Carolinas Player of the Week was the leading scorer in both games but the Lady Bulldogs only shot 32.8% (40-of-122) from the field over the weekend while both opponents better than 40-percent.
Barton (1-2 Overall; 1-0 Conf.) suffered its first two losses of the season but will try and remain undefeated in league play when the Lady Bulldogs travel to Lees-McRae College (Banner Elk, N.C.) for a Conference Carolinas showdown on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.
FRIDAY: Lenoir-Rhyne 64, Barton 52
Willie poured in a game-high 28 points and junior forward Cassandra Brown pulled down a game-high eight rebounds but Barton was unable to overcome a woeful first half as Lenoir-Rhyne posted the 12-point win.
Barton scored the game's first seven points on a senior Shante Neal layup, a three-point play by classmate Elaine Morgan and a jumper by Willie but the Bears would score the next 13 points to claw ahead for good. Another hoop by Morgan at the 12:26 mark ended a five-minute drought for the Lady Bulldogs. Sophomore Brianna Thomas followed with a basket in the paint to inch BC to within two at 13-11 but L-R outscored the Bulldogs 23-8 over the final 10 minutes to take a 36-19 halftime advantage.
Lenoir-Rhyne (1-1) held Barton to just 9-of-32 (28.1%) shooting in the first half to take control. The Lady Bulldogs outscored the Bears 33-28 in the second half but L-R maintained a double digit lead throughout the final 20 minutes. Lenoir-Rhyne also took advantage of 22 Barton mistakes that led to 25 points off turnovers.
Jazmine Charles led the Bears with 17 points and six rebounds. Brittany Christian, Ashia Mitchell and Nneka Awuruonye all chipped in 10 points for Lenoir-Rhyne. The Bears bench outscored BC's reserves 33-4.
Morgan filled up the box score with seven points, seven rebounds, six assists and five steals. Neal added six points.
Lenoir-Rhyne shot 45.8% for the game, including 50% in the second half, compared to 31.1% by the Lady Bulldogs.
SATURDAY: Catawba 59, Barton 53
An offensive rebound and layup by senior Janae Jackson provided Barton with its last lead, 53-52, with 6:56 left to play but Catawba would hold the Lady Bulldogs scoreless from that point to squeak out the six-point victory.
Barton went 0-for-10 from the field and 0-for-3 from the free throw line down the stretch while a go-ahead, 3- pointer by Chloe Bully was followed by four made free throws by the Tribe in the final 90 seconds to rally Catawba.
Antionette McPhail posted a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds to pace the victorious Indians. Bully also scored 16 points while handing out a game-high six assists. Elizabeth Merritt added 11 points.
Willie scored 20-plus points for a third consecutive time to start the season by swishing a game-high 21 points. Willie had a hot hand from three-point distance going 5-of-6 from beyond the arc. Willie also led the Bulldogs with six rebounds as Catawba controlled the backboards, 40-34.
Jackson, Neal and senior Jolanda Mitchell all scored six points. Jackson came up with a game-high five steals and Neal grabbed five boards. Morgan supplied five points, four assists and three steals.
The first half was a seesaw affair that included 15 of the contest's 21 lead changes. Catawba held a slim 36-32 lead at halftime before cold shooting doomed the Lady Bulldogs.
Barton shot 41.9% in the first period before cooling off to 26.7% in the final 20 minutes for 34.4% for the game. The Indians shot 40.8%. Catawba made all 13 of its free throw shots for a rare 100% mark while the Lady Bulldogs only converted on half of its chances from the charity stripe, going 6-of-12 (50%).
