JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – The Barton women's basketball team (13-3) saw its season come to a close with a 62-52 loss to Belmont Abbey (24-2) in the championship of the 2021 NCAA Division II Southeast Regional Tournament Monday evening at the Holt Fieldhouse on the campus of Carson-Newman University.
The top-seeded Crusaders, ranked No. 21 in NCAA Division II, pushed their winning streak to 20 games and beat the Bulldogs for the third time this year. Barton, the second seed in the regional tournament, had advanced to the Sweet 16 for the first time in school history.
Belmont Abbey, the Conference Carolinas Tournament Champions, was led by Allie Downing (New Madison, Ohio) with 12 points and the Crusaders outscored the Bulldogs by a 25-10 margin in the third quarter to take control of the game. Belmont Abbey also held Barton to 29 percent (19-of-65) shooting from the field and won despite turning the ball over 22 times.
Barton, which led by a 26-25 score at halftime, was paced by junior guard
Akira Wiggins' (Knightdale, N.C.) 22 points while senior center and league player of the year
Shanika Peterkin (Virginia Beach, Va.) also scored in double figures with 10 points in the losing effort.
The third period also included a 19-1 run by Belmont Abbey and the deficit became too much to overcome for Barton. Maria Kuhlman (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.) and Kelli Thomas (Ocoee, Fla.) added 10 points each for the Crusaders, who also held a 41-31 edge in rebounding.
Belmont Abbey advances to the NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Elite Eight which takes place at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio, beginning with the quarterfinal round on Tuesday, March 23.
NCAA Division II Women's Basketball
Southeast Regional Tournament
March 12-13, 15, 2021
Jefferson City, Tenn. - Holt Fieldhouse
All-Tournament Team
Akira Wiggins, Barton
Shanika Peterkin, Barton
Allie Downing, Belmont Abbey
Brittany Autry, Belmont Abbey
Maria Kuhlman, Belmont Abbey (Most Outstanding Player)
