Box Score by Benny Benton
WILSON, N.C. – The Barton College women's basketball team recorded its highest point total in a game in more than two years Tuesday night by racing past Pfeiffer University, 95-80, in a Conference Carolinas matchup at Wilson Gymnasium
Nyeshea Willie led four players in double-figures for the Lady Bulldogs (8-8, 5-3) with a game-high 28 points, and freshman center Caila Carter added 16 points and 13 rebounds, both season highs, for her second double-double in a row.
Five players reached 10 points or more for the Falcons (2-14, 1-7), led by Alexis Stallard with 15. However, Pfeiffer's leading scorer on the season, junior transfer Carter Williams, was limited to just seven points on 1-of-16 shooting from the field, including 1-of-12 from 3-point range.
The 95 points marked the most for Barton in a game since the Lady Bulldogs routed Converse College, 102-52, on Jan. 7, 2012, and helped the Royal Blue and White end a two-game conference losing skid.
In addition to Willie's 28 points, the Lady Bulldogs also received eight rebounds and five assists from the senior from Virginia Beach, Va. Junior Brianna Thomas added 17 points and six rebounds, and freshman Tiffany Webster chipped in 10 points, six assists and five boards.
Ariana Tillman contributed 13 points, a team-high nine rebounds and four steals for the Falcons, which dropped their fifth game in a row and their eighth straight true road contest dating back to last season. Amy Steller recorded 12 points, six boards and four steals in a losing cause, and Pfeiffer also gained 12 points from Brittney Washington and 10 off the bench from Carlisha Holivay.
Pfeiffer knocked off the Lady Bulldogs in the semifinals of the 2013 Conference Carolinas Tournament the last time they invaded the Dog House, but that team was 25-7 and lost three all-conference players.
This season's version of the Falcons came into the contest ranked ninth in the 10-team league in scoring defense and tied for the bottom in turnovers. Neither average improved in Tuesday's contest, as Pfeiffer turned the ball over 24 times in addition to nearly giving up triple-digit points.
Ironically, Pfeiffer forced more turnovers than it committed, forcing Barton into 25 miscues, its second-highest total of the year. However, the Lady Bulldogs made more of their chances, outscoring Pfeiffer 22 to six on fast break points and 26 to 19 in points directly off turnovers.
Those differences helped Barton shoot 46 percent from the field, while the Falcons managed just 34 percent. The Lady Bulldogs also out-scored Pfeiffer by 11 points from the free throw line.
Pfeiffer held a brief lead at 5-2 a minute and a half into play when Stallard dropped in the first of her three 3-pointers on the night. However, Willie scored the game's next four points, and Webster followed with a three-point play to put Barton up 9-5.
Stallard made a layup to cut the Pfeiffer deficit back to two, and the Falcons still trailed by that margin after a Steller layup with 15:59 to play before halftime made the score 11-9. However, Barton went on a 10-2 run, the final six points of the spurt scored by junior Kaila Lea.
A layup and 3-pointer by Tillman cut the Pfeiffer deficit in half to five at 21-16, and with just over six minutes left in the first half, the Falcons remained within six following Alyssa Harvell's only two points of the game.
However, a layup by Barton's Shatisha Dukes, who had seven points and five rebounds, started the decisive run for the Lady Bulldogs. Willie spearheaded the spurt, making two free throws, then coming up with consecutive steals and layups. Webster finished off the 10-0 run with a layup that put Barton up 16 at 39-23 with 3:36 left before intermission.
Pfeiffer closed to within 11 to close out the half at 44-33, but Willie drained a 3-pointer to open the second period and discourage any hopes of a Falcons comeback. Barton quickly went up by 19 points, and led by as many as 23 five minutes into the period.
Barton will hit the road on Saturday to face Erskine College, which handed the Lady Bulldogs a 92-88 setback in December.
