NEWBERRY - The Newberry women's basketball team put together two dominant halves on the glass in their 75-60 victory over Lenoir-Rhyne tonight at Eleazer Arena. The Lady Indians were aided by four players with double-digit scoring, along with a career rebounding performance by sophomore Tonique Frasier (Walterboro, S.C.). Newberry picks up just their sixth win ever against the Bears as they improve to 11-7 overall and 3-3 in the South Atlantic Conference. Lenoir-Rhyne drops to 8-11 overall and 1-5 in the conference.
Newberry grabbed a 5-4 lead early in the game and never looked back as they didn't trail for the remainder of the game. Lenoir-Rhyne responded with several small runs, including a 10-6 spurt deadlocking the score at 23 with 5:38 to go. The Lady Indians answered with a run of their own, reeling off a 16-6 surge to cap the half, leaving them a 10-point cushion to work with heading into the final stanza. Frasier pulled down 12 of her career-high 22 rebounds in the opening half.
To start the second, the Lady Indians picked up right where they left off in the first half. Newberry's aggressive defense helped balloon the lead to 22, 54-32, with 15:27 to go. Lenoir-Rhyne was held to just three points in nearly five minutes of action. Newberry was able to push their lead to 25, 67-42, with under 10 minutes to play but the Bears kept scrapping, forcing the Lady Indians into multiple trips to the foul line. Sophomore Ashlee Wright (Myrtle Beach, S.C.) made a fast-break layup giving Newberry their second 25-point lead, 73-48, with 2:59 to go, which proved to seal the deal. Lenoir-Rhyne rallied and went on a 12-2 run to end the game, but the effort was too little, too late making the score final, 75-60.
Frasier paced the Lady Indians with her 17-point, 22-rebound performance, while Monica Alexander (Norcross, Ga.), Wright, and Laura Marquardt (Mt. Pleasant, S.C.) each added 16, 14, and 11, respectively. Senior Tonya Deese (Newberry, S.C.) chipped in eight points and eight rebounds, while Alexander dished a game-high seven assists. Lenoir-Rhyne had five players reach double-figures, including Shannon Jones (Warrenton, N.C.) and Ashlei Helton (Icard, N.C.) with 11 a piece and Ashley Gordon (Newport News, Va.), Joanie White (Claremont, N.C.), and Leah Barrier (Morganton, N.C.) all with 10. White led the Bears in rebounds with seven, while Barrier handed out five assists. Newberry outrebounded the Bears 46-34 on the game.
Remember, this game can be seen on television via tape delay this Saturday, January 28. Fans in Columbia will see the game at 3 p.m. on Cable Channel 7 in Columbia. It will also be shown in additional North Carolina markets, for which times will be announced soon. Check with your local Time Warner cable provider to verify dates and times, as they are subject to change.
Next up for the Lady Indians is a road game at Mars Hill College on Saturday, January 28. Tip off is set for 2 p.m. The Bears head to Tusculum College on the same date for a 2 p.m. match-up.
