BRISTOL, Tenn. – The Barton women's basketball team (24-1, 20-1) clinched the 2021-22 Conference Carolinas Regular Season Championship with a 77-69 win over King (Tenn.) (12-11, 11-9) Saturday afternoon at the Student Center Complex.
The Bulldogs, ranked No. 8 in NCAA Division II and sixth in the recent Southeast Regional Poll, were led by senior center
Shanika Peterkin (Virginia Beach, Va.) with 27 points and 13 rebounds while senior forward
Jami Tham (Arlington, Va.) added 20 points and 15 rebounds as Barton ran its winning streak to 18 games and clinched the No. 1 seed in league championship tournament.
Barton jumped out to a 42-26 halftime advantage and held on to sweep the season series from King and won their 24th game of the year for the third time in its last four seasons. Peterkin moved into a fourth-place tie on the school's all-time scoring list with 1,747 points, tying Shemkia Reid (1999-02).
King was led by Ryleigh Fritz (White Pine, Tenn.) with 22 points but the Tornado shot just 37 percent from the floor (24-of-65) in the losing effort. King also hit just three-of-13 three-point attempts in the setback.
Barton claims the league regular season title for the first time since the 2011-12 campaign, the last of four straight titles for the Bulldogs. Senior guard
Akira Wiggins (Knightdale, N.C.) added 18 points for the Bulldogs, who also blocked eight shots on the day.
Barton closes out the regular season home portion of its schedule on Tuesday against UNC Pembroke Tuesday at 5:00 p.m., while King hosts Converse Tuesday at 5:00 p.m., as well.
