NEWBERRY - Newberry College freshman forward Carnicha Bellinger (Greenville, S.C.) poured in a career-high 28 points Tuesday night, but it was not enough as the Lady Indians came up short, 83-81, to 19th-ranked Anderson College in NCAA women's basketball action at Eleazer Arena.
The upstart Indians (4-2) held their own against the Lady Trojans (5-1), a NCAA-tournament team last season, in a contest with 14 lead changes and six tie scores.
Bellinger's 28 points were matched by Anderson's LaShonda Chiles (Greenwood, S.C.), the Carolinas-Virginia Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year in 2003-04.
With Anderson ahead 77-76 at the 1:16 mark, Laura Banda (Holcomb, Kan.) dribbled through the Trojan defense for a layup attempt that was collected by Bellinger, who then converted the short jumper. Following a Newberry timeout, Chiles put Anderson back in front, 79-78, with a jumper from the elbow in isolation.
On the other end with a dwindling shot clock, Banda could not collect a pass and stepped out-of-bounds in the save attempt. Anderson converted all four of its free throw attempts in the next two possessions, going ahead 83-78. Newberry's Ashley Marine (Peachtree City, Ga.) hit a three-pointer from the right side to close the gap to 83-81 as time expired.
Anderson sprinted from the gates for a four-point lead, but Newberry erased that deficit five minutes later for a lead that bulged to 12 points and stood at 41-40 at halftime. The Indians' margin lasted until 16:32 in the second period when Stephanie Ponds (Bethune, S.C.) connected on two foul shots as a part of a 4-for-4 evening at the line and 14 total points.
Mikala Fogle-Wilson (Columbia, S.C.) was Anderson's other double-digit scorer with 24 points in 26 minutes. Ponds contributed four blocks and 12 rebounds to the Lady Trojan cause.
Newberry continued its trademark balanced attack, getting offensive production from 11 of the 12 players that took the court. Tonique Frasier (Walterboro, S.C.) scored nine points and snatched eight rebounds. Bellinger added seven boards and three assists to her career-high point total.
Fouls nearly became a problem for Anderson, with Kim Hausman (Watkinsville, Ga.) fouling out and every other starter with at least three fouls. Karisa Dinges (Mendota, Ill.) and Monica Alexander (Norcross, Ga.) each collected four fouls guarding the Trojan shooting-guard tandem.
Newberry regroups for a home game this Saturday against USC Upstate at 2 p.m. Anderson travels to Hartsville, S.C., to face Coker College in the conference opener for both squads.
