Box Score
by Kevin Buczek
TIGERVILLE, S.C.-Junior guard Nyeshea Willie netted 32 points against North Greenville University for a second time this season and classmate Ashley Thornton scored a career-high 11 points as Barton College picked up a 73-62 Conference Carolinas women's basketball road victory on Saturday in Hayes Gymnasium.
The Lady Bulldogs (7-4 Overall, 6-1 Conf.) remain tied for first in the league standings with Limestone College after completing the series sweep of the North Greenville Crusaders (2-8, 0-6).
Willie was a perfect 14-for-14 on free throw attempts en route to her game-high 32 points. Willie continued to baffle North Greenville after scoring 32 points in BC's 81-53 victory over the Crusaders on Nov. 17. Willie's career-high 33 points also came against NGU in another Barton win last season.
Thornton tallied a career-best 11 points in her first start of the season. Senior forward Shante Neal came off the bench to score nine points and grab a game-high 12 rebounds as Barton finished with a 39-36 edge on the glass. Seniors Janae Jackson and Elaine Morgan chipped in with six points apiece. Morgan made six of the Lady Bulldogs 16 steals.
Barton was held scoreless for nearly the first three minutes of play allowing the hosts to take a quick 6-0 lead before Willie put the Bulldogs on the board with a 3-point play at the 17:20 mark. Willie's bucket while being fouled sparked an 8-nil run by the visitors that was capped by a trey by Thornton to give Barton its first lead at 8-6.
The two teams continued to play a close first half with NGU holding its last lead, 25-23, midway through the period until BC senior Alexa Tovella knotted the scoreboard for a third and final time with a pair of made free throws with 7:42 on the clock. Sophomore Brianna Thomas then drilled a three-pointer that launched the Lady Bulldogs ahead for good at 28-25. Thomas' trifecta ignited a 15-2 run that featured five different Barton players scoring to push the visitors advantage to 13 (40-27). North Greenville scored the final six points to close the halftime score to within seven at 40-33.
Willie scored 20 of her 32 points in the opening period and Barton made half of its shot attempts, 14-28.
North Greenville kept threatening in the second half and only trailed by seven at the 10-minute mark but a put-back by Neal and a 3-pointer by Thornton increased Barton's cushion to 61-49. Another 8-2 rally trimmed the deficit in half, 63-57, as the clock ticked inside three minutes but eight consecutive made free throws by the Lady Bulldogs down the stretch finished off the 11-point win.
"We got off to a slow start but played well after the first five minutes," said Barton veteran head coach Wendee Saintsing. "Nye [Willie] played well with 32 points and 14-of-14 shooting from the line. Ashley Thornton started and played well on both ends locking down their top three-point shooter. It was a good effort for a long trip with good bench play from Alexa Tovella and Brie Thomas."
The Royal Blue and White shot 46.2% (24-52) from the floor and 77.8% (21-27) from the charity stripe. The Lady Bulldogs scored all 12 of the games fast break points while boasting a 27-17 edge in points off turnovers.
North Greenville was held to 39.1% (25-64) shooting while only converting on 52.9% (9-17) of its free throws. Timisty Nelson and Alisha Hope led the Crusaders with 23 and 14 points, respectively.
Barton next plays at Conference Carolinas foe Belmont Abbey College on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.
