KENNESAW, GA. - Newberry College stormed back from a double-digit deficit in the second half with two runs that totaled a 25-3 Indian advantage that enabled the visitors to knock off Division I-bound Kennesaw State University 65-61 in late women's basketball action Friday night at the Spec Landrum Center.
The win was the first in Newberry's history against the Owls, propelling the Lady Indians to a 8-3 record for the 2004 portion of the schedule, including a 3-1 mark against Peach Belt Conference schools. Newberry halted a three-game KSU winning streak, and has now won four of its last five games.
Trailing by 12, the largest point differential of the game, Newberry scored 10 unanswered points in two-and-a-half minutes, six of those coming at the hands of Tonique Frasier (Walterboro, S.C.), to make a 52-50 ballgame with nine minutes remaining. Kennesaw (7-3) scored on its next three possessions to stretch the lead to 58-50.
At that point, Newberry responded with what could be its best seven minutes of basketball so far this season. The Indian defense forced ten turnovers and eight missed baskets, allowing only three Owl points while scoring 15. Ashley Marine (Peachtree City, Ga.) had the hot hand twice, making two of her four three-point shots during the run and rejecting KSU guard Nikki Gurley's (Blairsville, Ga.) layup attempt. Marine's trey at the 2:43 mark made the score 62-61 and gave the Scarlet and Gray the lead it would not relinquish.
The teams swapped leads twice and tied twice in the early going, but Kennesaw grabbed the lead with just under 11 minutes left in the first and gradually grew it to 37-28 at the break. The 28 points is Newberry's second-lowest total this season; 24 points in the first half of a 66-59 comeback win at Lander is the lowest at the break.
Carnicha Bellinger (Greenville, S.C.) led all scorers with 14 points, including Newberry's final field goal to put the Indians ahead 64-61. Marine reached double figures for the fourth time of her career, scoring all 12 points from beyond the arc. Monica Alexander (Norcross, Ga.) dished five assists and recorded nine points with a basket and clutch 7-for-9 free throw shooting. Frasier and Laura Banda (Holcomb, Kan.) notched eight points each.
Lauren Harris (Columbia, Mo.) led all Owls with 12 points, followed by Leslie Smith (Tuscumbia, Ala.) and Gurley with 11 and 10 points, respectively.
Kennesaw State committed 32 turnovers that Newberry turned into 25 points.
Newberry looks for revenge for last year's loss to Southern Wesleyan University when it hosts the Lady Warriors Tuesday night at 7 p.m. The contest will be Newberry's last tune-up opportunity before conference play, as Carson-Newman comes calling next Saturday at 2. Kennesaw takes on Tusculum Monday night, having beaten them 78-68 earlier this season.
