Box Score by Benny Benton
SALISBURY, N.C. – An offensive putback by Terri Rogers with 21 seconds to play broke a 69-all tie and lifted host Catawba College to an eventual 74-69 win over Barton College in the SAC/Conference Carolinas Challenge on Saturday at Goodman Gym.
The Lady Indians (2-0) enjoyed a 42-24 rebound margin in the contest, including an 18-8 edge on the offensive glass, and none were bigger than the board pulled down by Rogers after a missed shot by Alexis Newbold with 23 seconds left. Rogers was fouled on the putback and converted the free throw as well, giving Catawba a 72-69 cushion in the waning moments.
Tatyana Jackson, who had provided the game's 15th tie by draining a 3-pointer with 42 seconds left to knot the score at 69, attempted to do the same with nine seconds left but missed, and Serena Brown grabbed the defensive rebound for the Lady Indians. She sank both free throw attempts with five seconds left to provide the final margin of victory.
The five-point advantage at the end for Catawba was the same as Barton's largest lead in a game that was closely contested throughout. The Lady Bulldogs held their five-point cushion twice in the first half, the latter of those at 26-21 with 5:37 left in the first half, and Catawba enjoyed a brief five-point lead with 2:24 to play.
Four players for Catawba – Rogers, Brown, Bri Johnson and Marshauna Butler – combined to score 67 of the Lady Indians' 74 points and collect 34 of their 42 rebounds. Johnson had 22 points and six rebounds, Rogers had 19 points and 10 rebounds, Brown had 12 points and 10 boards, and Butler had 14 points and eight boards.
Barton (1-1) was paced by sophomore Kianna Wynn, who tossed in 19 points and pulled down eight rebounds. Sophomore Ciera Williams added 12 points, and sophomore Dinah Neal chipped in eight.
Reflecting the closeness of the game, Barton shot 45 percent on 26 made field goals and Catawba shot 44 percent of 25 made baskets. However, the Lady Indians made 8-of-15 attempts from 3-point range (53 percent) while BC was just 3-of-10.
Barton did force Catawba into 22 turnovers, 13 of those coming on steals by the Lady Bulldogs.
The Lady Bulldogs will return to action next Friday in the opening round of the 3rd Annual BJ Ford Classic, where they will face host Armstrong State University in Savannah, Ga.
