Box Score by Kevin Buczek
TIGERVILLE, S.C.-Senior guard Nyeshea Willie scored a game-high 38 points and junior forward Brianna Thomas recorded her fourth double-double for visiting Barton College but North Greenville University squeaked out a seesaw 101-96 victory in overtime Saturday afternoon in Hayes Gymnasium.
The Crusaders made 3 of 4 shots from the field and 5 of 8 free throws in the five-minute overtime period while holding the Lady Bulldogs to just 2 of 9 accuracy in OT to secure the five-point win.
Willie, who ranks second in NCAA Division II in scoring, scored all 38 of her points in regulation including a go-ahead layup in the final minute. However, Willie fouled out on NGU's ensuing possession and junior guard Alisha Hope was able to make 1 of 2 free throws to knot the score at 90-all and force the extra time.
The Crusaders scored the first five points in OT on a junior Timisty Nelson layup and a Hope jumper and one free throw. The hosts kept the lead despite the Lady Bulldogs pulling to within one possession twice. A pair of free throws by junior Kaila Lea inched BC to within three with less than a minute left but Nelson answered with her own two made free throws and then the Lady Bulldogs missed their final two shots.
The triumph gives North Greenville (7-13 overall, 3-9 conf.) a full one-game lead over Pfeiffer for the eighth and final playoff position in the league standings with a half-dozen regular season games left. Barton (9-12, 6-7) is seventh place and will next play at league-leading Limestone College on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.
Thomas scored a season-high 25 points and yanked down a game-high 15 rebounds en route to her double-double. Senior Ashley Thornton tossed in 13 points and Lea chipped in a season-high 12 points.
Hope paced the Crusaders with 31 points on a blazing 11 of 15 shooting accuracy. Nelson netted 23 points, freshman Emily Wampler swished 17 and senior Jaquazha Barrino bucketed 10 as NGU shot 52.3% (34 of 65) from the field including 9 of 15 (60%) from behind the arc and 80% (24 of 30) from the free throw line.
Barton was held to 38.6% (34 of 88) shooting including a chilly 5 of 22 (22.7%) from 3-point distance. The Lady Bulldogs did knock down 23 of 28 free throws (82.1%). BC took 23 more shots than the Crusaders by controlling the backboards, 49-42, including nine offensive rebounds by Thomas.
The contest featured 11 ties and 15 lead changes. Barton took its largest lead of six points, 17-11, on a Thomas hoop at the 12:13 mark of the first half. Another Thomas swish kept the Lady Bulldogs up by two in the final minute of the first half but a late lay-in by Nelson knotted the score, 42-42, at halftime.
The Crusaders climbed out to the largest advantage of the day, 64-54, in the back-and-forth tilt on a sophomore Taylor Vinson 3-pointer at the 11:22 mark of the second half. North Greenville held a 10-point cushion one more time on a pair of made free throws by Nelson with just 5:27 to go but Willie scored the game's next nine points to pull Barton within one point at 83-82. Cotton temporarily ended Willie's streak with two made freebees but Willie went to make two more shots go give BC the lead at 86-85. Hope launched an accurate trey 10 seconds later to put the Crusaders back in front and Cotton increased NGU's edge to 89-86 with one successful free throw. Lea responded with two made free throws to pull the Lady Bulldogs within one, 89-88, as the clock ticked inside one minute. A North Greenville turnover allowed Willie to score the go-ahead basket before she was whistled for her fifth infraction, allowing the hosts to level the score from the free throw line and force OT.
Willie added a game-high four steals and was 10 of 11 from the free throw line.
