FLORENCE, S.C. – The Barton women's basketball team (23-1, 19-1), ranked No. 8 in the nation, kept it rolling with a 70-64 win over Francis Marion (13-10, 12-9) Wednesday evening in a Conference Carolinas game at Smith University Center.
Barton senior All-American center
Shanika Peterkin (Virginia Beach, Va.) powered the Bulldogs to their second win on back-to-back nights with a season-high 32 points, 15 rebounds and five blocked shots. The six-time league defensive player of the week keyed the Bulldogs' 17th straight victory.
Senior guard
Akira Wiggins (Knightdale, N.C.) added 13 points and five assists as the Bulldogs recovered from a 33-29 halftime deficit to sweep the season series from the Patriots.
Francis Marion was led by Aniyah Oliver (Goose Creek, S.C.) with 19 points but the Bulldogs limited Lauryn Taylor (Blythewood, S.C.), the national women's basketball player of the week, to just nine points on four-of-15 shooting.
With the score tied at 52 at the 7:44 mark of the second half, Peterkin hit what would be the game-winning lay-up that started a 5-0 run and the Bulldogs stayed ahead the rest of the way. Senior forward
Jami Tham (Arlington, Va.) added six points, 15 rebounds and four blocked shots for the Bulldogs as well.
Barton remains on the road to take on King (Tenn.) on Saturday in league action beginning at 2:00 p.m., in Bristol, Tenn., while Francis Marion hosts Emmanuel (Ga.) on Saturday at 2:00 p.m., as well.
