Box Score
by Kevin
GAFFNEY, S.C.-Senior forward Janae Jackson posted her first double-double of the season as the Barton College women's basketball team attempted to knock off 21st nationally ranked Limestone College on Saturday evening in the Timken Center.
The Lady Bulldogs scored the final six points in a rematch of last year's Conference Carolinas championship game but were unable to overcome an eight-point halftime deficit in the narrow 64-58 road loss.
Barton (5-4 Overall, 4-1 Conf.) returns home to host Conference Carolinas rival Coker College on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. Limestone (7-2, 4-1) handed the Lady Bulldogs its first league loss of the season and helped log jam the upper half of the conference standings once again. The Saints and Bulldogs are now in a four-way tie for second as the Coker Cobras (9-3, 5-1) sit atop the standings by a half game.
Junior guard Nyeshea Willie scored a game-high 22 points on 8-of-13 shooting including BC's only two made 3-pointers. Jackson converted on 10-of-14 free throws en route to 16 points while seizing a game-high 13 rebounds for her first double-double.
Barton received all 58 of its points from its starters. Senior forwards Shante Neal and Jolanda Mitchell netted eight and six points, respectively. Senior point guard Elaine Morgan contributed a balanced line of eight rebounds, six points, team-high four steals and team-high three assists.
In a match-up of two teams ranked in the top-25 nationally in turnover margin, Limestone was able to protect the ball better committing 17 turnovers while forcing the Lady Bulldogs into 24 mistakes (second most to Barton's season-opening 25 turnovers). Both teams shot 41% from the field but the Saints took nine more shots because of the better ball control even though BC once again dominated the backboards 42-25. Limestone also swished nine 3-pointers.
Willie made one of the Lady Bulldogs two trey's for the open three points of the game and a lay-in by Morgan on the ensuing Barton play gave the visitors a quick 5-0 lead to start. Willie's fastbreak layup at the 11:55 mark of the first half to provided Barton with its last lead of 12-10. The Saints leapfrogged in front with a 7-1 run but the Bulldogs still just trailed by two, 17-15, after Neal made a jumper in the paint with 7:20 on the clock. Limestone registered the next nine points in what proved to be a decisive surge to increase its lead to double figures for the first time, 26-15, before maintaining an eight-point cushion, 33-25, at halftime.
Limestone shot 40.6% in the first half and Barton made just 33.3%. Saints senior guard Maria Young scored 13 of her team-high 17 points in the opening period.
The hosts built its largest lead of 13 points (42-29) with 16:11 to go but the Lady Bulldogs quickly pulled to within one possession, 47-45, with an 16-5 rally that was capped by Willie's second 3-pointer. Senior guard Tia Williams responded with a trifecta for the Saints just 10 seconds later and Limestone eventually extended its lead back to 12 points as late as 2:52. Barton kept the Saints scoreless from that point but was only able to score six of its own points down the stretch to cut the final deficit in half.
Senior guard Stephanie Hayes made 4-of-5 attempts from behind the arc in scoring 16 points for Limestone. Williams added 12 points.
