WILSON, N.C. - The Barton women's basketball team (12-1) punched its ticket to the finals of the league tournament with a 66-64 victory over Mount Olive (7-7), 66-64, in the semifinals on Thursday night at Wilson Gymnasium.
Barton senior center
Shanika Peterkin (Virginia Beach, Va.) finished with 25 points and 14 rebounds – both game-highs – while senior guard
Michelle Gainey (Rocky Mount, N.C.) scored all 10 of her points in the second half including three huge treys in the victory. Peterkin now has 10 double-doubles on the year.
Barton junior forward
Jami Tham-Morrobel (Arlington, Va.) notched a double-double as well – 18 points and 11 rebounds – as the Bulldogs rallied from a 57-47 deficit at the end of the third stanza to win their 10th straight contest.
Mount Olive was led by Azariah Fields (Wilmington, N.C.) with 21 points while Ivanda Hudjakova (Valmiera, LATVIA) added 16 points and three treys in the losing effort.
Barton now advances to the finals of the 2021 Conference Carolinas Women's Basketball Championship to face Belmont Abbey (21-2) on Sunday, March 7, at 2:00 p.m., at the Wheeler Center in Belmont, N.C. The top-seeded Crusaders downed fourth-seeded King (Tenn.) (10-7) by a 68-59 score Thursday in their semifinal match at home. Barton is advancing to the finals of the league tournament for the second straight year.
