NEWBERRY - The Newberry women's basketball team used a 16-0 run to overcome a 10-point second half deficit in a come from behind victory, 71-67, over conference foe Tusculum College today in Eleazer Arena. Tusculum, who leads the nation in three-pointers made a game, was held to just eight converted threes at 27.6%. Sophomore Tonique Frasier (Walterboro, S.C.) poured in a season-high 20 points for the Lady Indians, including six in the 16-0 spurt. With the win, Newberry improves to 10-7 overall and 2-3 in the South Atlantic Conference, while Tusculum drops to 11-5 overall and 2-3 in the conference. The win is Newberry's fifth ever against the Pioneers.
"I thought we did a better job today," stated head coach Jason Brink. "We picked up some of the loose balls that we usually don't get and our effort was more consistent. The girls played a lot of minutes and were exhausted. I told them that that's how you feel when you give it your all."
Tusculum jumped out to a quick start in the second half, seemingly gaining control of the game. After a 38-all tie, Tusculum's Amer Redding (Sevierville, Tenn.) and Chassity Martin (Salem, Va.) hit back-to-back threes, giving them a six-point cushion, 44-38, with 14:12 to go. Just minutes later, the Pioneers built the margin to 10 at 55-45, the game's biggest lead for either team.
The Lady Indians responded, however, using tight defense and timely shots. With 10:56 to go, senior Tonya Deese (Newberry, S.C.) sparked the Newberry run with a layup, followed by a Jonelle Yaklich (LaSalle, Ill.) three and two jumpers from Frasier. The Lady Indians took a 56-55 lead with 5:18 left after another Deese jumper in the midst of their 16-0 run. Tusculum was held scoreless for nearly eight minutes. During that span, the Pioneers missed eight shots and committed six of their 20 total turnovers.
A Monica Alexander (Norcross, Ga.) three-pointer gave Newberry their biggest lead of the game, 64-57, with 2:50 to go. The Lady Indians kept their two-possession lead with 1:38 left after an Ashlee Wright (Myrtle Beach, S.C.) layup, but Tusculum's Ashli Oliver (Kokomo, Ind.) hit a wide open three-pointer, cutting the Newberry lead to three, 66-63. The Lady Indians responded, but couldn't quite seal the deal at the free throw line, as they missed five of their eight charity shots down the stretch. Brooke Underwood (Knoxville, Tenn.) made a layup keeping the Pioneers close, but a Wright free throw was enough to end the game.
Frasier's 20 points was a game-high mark, while Deese also reached double figures for Newberry with 14. Alexander and Wright contributed nine each, while freshman Anita Bulcher (Houston, Ohio) chipped in eight off the bench. Deese led the way on the glass with eight boards, while Frasier and Bulcher added six a piece. Tusculum had four ladies reach double digits, with Redding leading the way with 18. Oliver chipped in 12, while Martin and Stephany Neptune (Wallkill, N.Y.) each had 10. Underwood dished eight assists for the Pioneers.
Play was tight in the first half, as neither team led by more than six. The visitors jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead, but the Lady Indians fought back to tie the game at 10, thanks to eight points from Frasier. Several one and two-point leads for both teams followed until Tusculum canned three three-pointers in a row, giving them a 30-24 advantage with 4:03 to go. Newberry was able to answer the three-point shooting barrage with an 8-2 run to end the half, making the score 32 all at the break. The Lady Indians' defensive pressure forced the Pioneers into 12 first-half turnovers.
Next up for Newberry is a home match-up with Lenoir Rhyne College on January 25th at 6 p.m. The game will be televised tape-delay by Time Warner markets in North and South Carolina. Tusculum heads home for a January 25th game against Presbyterian College. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m.
