Box Score by Cory Guinn
BELMONT, N.C. – Despite leading by six points following three quarters of play, the Barton women's basketball team dropped its first Conference Carolinas contest with a 70-67 loss to Belmont Abbey College inside the Wheeler Center.
Barton (3-3, 1-1) ran out to an early 7-2 lead in the first quarter following a three-pointer from freshman Angela Caraballo, however, the Crusaders (3-1, 1-0) responded with a 16-6 run to lead after the first 10 minutes of play. Belmont Abbey continued to control the first half, leading 35-29 at the halftime break.
The Lady Bulldogs came out of the intermission on the attack, claiming a 42-41 advantage with just over four minutes to go in the third period for its first lead since the 5:39 mark of the first quarter. From there, BC closed the quarter with an 11-6 run to lead by a six-point margin enter the final period of play.
Barton held onto its lead for much of the fourth quarter until the Crusaders tied the game at 60-all following consecutive free throws from Chrystal Ezechukwu. BC was able to reclaim the lead just 12 second later on a layup from sophomore Kianna Wynn.
Seven Belmont Abbey free throws over a span of 1:47 combined with just two made jumpers for Barton put the Crusaders ahead by three points with just 13 seconds remaining. Barton made just 1-of-3 free throw attempts in the final four seconds while Abbey's Briana Grier made 1-of-2 free throw attempts with two seconds left to seal the win.
The Crusaders were 22-for-26 (84.6 percent) from the charity stripe in the game, while Barton was just 11-for-28 (39.3 percent). BC did force 20 Abbey turnovers and held a 44-30 advantage in points scored in the paint.
Wynn led all players with a season-high 22 points, making 10-of-15 shot attempts, to go along with eight rebounds. Redshirt-junior Alex Kimble chipped in a season-high 15 points in 27 minutes off of the bench, while sophomore Dinah Neal scored nine points of her own.
Barton will be on the road for the ninth straight game on Saturday, Dec. 3 when the team travels to Bristol, Tenn. for a conference tilt with King University at 6 p.m.
