JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – The Barton women's basketball team (13-2) advanced to the regional finals after coming from behind to defeat Catawba (11-4), 80-64, Saturday evening in the semifinals of the 2021 NCAA Division II Southeast Regional Tournament at the Holt Fieldhouse on the campus of Carson-Newman College.
No. 2 seed Barton now faces top-seeded and league-rival Belmont Abbey (23-2) in the Monday's final beginning at 6:00 p.m. The Crusaders downed sixth-seeded Tusculum (19-4) by a 74-59 score in their semifinal contest.
Barton freshman guard
Lauren Walker (Charlotte, N.C.) led the way with a team-high 21 points while junior guard
Akira Wiggins (Knightdale, N.C.) added 19 points and hit four treys as the Bulldogs took charge in the second half after trailing by a 38-37 score at halftime.
The Bulldogs shot 61 percent (14-of-23) from the field after halftime and hit six of nine three-pointers in the second half as Barton advanced to the regional championship for the first time in school history.
Barton senior center
Shanika Peterkin (Virginia Beach, Va.) and junior forward
Jami Tham-Morrobel (Arlington, Va.) both manned the paint for the Bulldogs as each notched double-doubles. Peterkin, the 2020-21 Conference Carolinas Player and Defensive Player of the Year, tallied 14 points and 14 rebounds while Tham-Morrobel scored 15 points and pulled down 12 boards in the victory.
Catawba, the sixth seed, was led by Shemya Stanback (Kannapolis, N.C.) with 22 points but the Indians shot just 31 percent (23-of-74) for the game. Meanwhile, Barton also won at the charity stripe, making 21-of-30 shots.
