Box Score by Cory Guinn
WILSON, N.C. – Despite leading by a seven-point margin at the half, the Barton College women's basketball team was defeated 74-65 by No. 5 Limestone College on Friday night in Wilson Gymnasium.
Barton (7-12, 5-7) shot 43.6 percent from the floor as a team and held Limestone (17-0, 12-0) to a 39.1 percent shooting mark. The Lady Bulldogs also held a 43-37 edge in total rebounds but committed 24 turnovers in the contest.
The Lady Bulldogs were looking to avenge a 62-point loss to the Saints earlier this month and began the game on a high note, leading 21-7 after the opening quarter of play. Barton's lead grew to as large as a 16-point margin early in the second quarter as BC held a 31-24 edge at intermission.
The Saints opened the third quarter with an 8-2 run to close the gap to 33-32 midway through the period, and twice made it a one-possession game but Barton clung to a 45-42 lead after three quarters of play.
In the fourth and final period, Limestone outscored Barton 32-20 to secure its comeback victory. The Saints tied the game at 54-all on back-to-back three-pointers from Jasmine Jearse and Amaura Brandt with 5:39 left.
A pair of free throws by freshman JerBria Smith put the Lady Bulldogs back on top by two before Brandt hit her second long range shot to give Limestone its first lead since early in the fourth quarter. Limestone's lead grew to double digits on a three-point play by Amber Wright with 1:33 to play as Kearse was 4-for-4 from the charity stripe in the closing seconds to keep the lead intact.
Kearse led all players with 22 points as Brandt was 4-for-7 from deep and finished the game with 16 points of her own. Wright totaled 12 points and 12 rebounds to record a double-double for Limestone.
Freshman Kianna Wynn led BC with 16 points and 12 rebounds to record her 10th double-double of the season, while junior Caila Carter followed with 15 points on 7-of-9 shooting from the floor and six rebounds. Redshirt-sophomore Alex Kimble finished with 12 points in 31 minutes of action as sophomore Karimah Dean totaled 10 points and eight rebounds off of the bench.
BC hosts North Greenville University tomorrow at 2 p.m. before welcoming rival University of Mount Olive to Wilson on Wednesday, February 3 at 5:30 p.m.
