Box Score
by Kevin Buczek
CHARLOTTE, N.C.-Junior guard Nyeshea Willie scored 31 points and senior point guard Elaine Morgan poured in a career-high 18 points to lead the Barton College women's basketball team to a 83-64 Conference Carolinas road win at Queens University of Charlotte in the Grady Cole Center.
The Lady Bulldogs used a 16-2 run midway through the second half to break away from a one possession game and outscored the Royals 28-12 over the final 12 minutes. Barton has won its last half dozen games and boasts an 11-4 overall record and a 10-1 league mark (tied for first in the conference with Limestone College). Queens slipped to 8-7 and 6-4.
Willie cashed in her 31 points on 11-of-20 shooting from the floor and 8-of-9 precision from the free throw line. Morgan was 8-of-14 in her offensive career night. Willie (6 steals) and Morgan (5) combined for 11 of the Lady Bulldogs 21 steals. They both had five assists and Morgan seized a team-high eight rebounds.
Barton led for most of the first half, jumpstarted by a 14-6 run to begin the game. Willie scored eight points during the opening surge. A senior Shante Neal left-side layup at the 12:58 mark doubled up Queens, 16-8, before Barton was held without a field goal for the next four minutes. The Royals went on a 13-3 run in that span to take a lead for the first time at 19-17 on two free throws by freshman Nikia Squire. Senior forward Jolanda Mitchell ended the Bulldogs drought with a basket that tied score for a second time but a three-pointer by sophomore Shatonya Hardy put the hosts back in front 22-19. Willie and the Lady Bulldogs answered with the next eight points to regain the lead for the final eight minutes. Willie scored 6-of-8 points in the run. A senior Alexa Tovella fastbreak layup on an assist by senior Elaine Morgan in the final minute extended Barton's advantage to eight but a sophomore Shanel Sweet baseline jumper in the final seconds closed the Royals halftime deficit to 37-31.
Willie led all players at the break with 14 points and four steals.
The two teams traded baskets to start the second half with Barton maintaining a lead for the entirety of the second period. A trey by Sweet followed by a junior Sarah Myatt basket pulled Queens to within one possession, 55-52, at the 12:02 mark but was then held scoreless for the four minutes. The Bulldogs went on their decisive 16-2 run at that point and two consecutive fastbreak baskets by senior Shante Neal in a 15-second span increased the visitors lead to double digits for the final 10 minutes.
Neal finished with 10 points, Mitchell chipped in nine and junior Ashley Thornton added eight.
Barton shot 48.5-percent (33-68) from the field and 60.9% (14-23) from the charity stripe. Queens was held to 38.7% (24-62) field goal shooting but fired at 78.6% (11-14) accuracy from the free throw line.
The Royals held a slight 45-40 rebounding edge with Myatt pulling down a game-high 12 boards. Squire and junior Shonice Pettaway led Queens offensively with 20 and 17 points, respectively.
In a battle of top two teams in the league in steals, Barton turned 30 Queens' mistakes into 30 points off turnovers including 23 fastbreak points. The Bulldogs committed 12 less turnovers.
Barton returns home for a match-up with the Flying Fleet of Erskine College on Saturday at 5:30 p.m.
