HICKORY, N.C. - For the second time in three games, junior guard Ashley Marine downed a three-pointer from deep in the corner to jettison the Newberry College Lady Indian basketball team to victory in South Atlantic Conference action.
The scarlet and gray battled back from an 8-point lead en route to a 60-57 win over Lenoir-Rhyne College at Shuford Gymnasium in Hickory, N.C. on Wednesday night.
After Lenoir-Rhyne (7-7, 1-3 SAC) built an 8-point advantage on freshman guard Lauren Casey's jump shot at the 8:30 mark in the second half, the Lady Indians (13-2, 2-2 SAC) went on a 10-3 run capped off by a 15-foot bucket from junior guard Ashlee Wright.
With the Bears on top by the slimmest of margins, 51-50, freshman guard Jami Safrit converted just one of two free throw chances, to put Lenoir-Rhyne on top by a basket.
Then with 4:20 left in the game, a driving Wright drew double coverage in the lane and kicked the ball out to an open Ashley Marine who did not miss from beyond the arch.
Though Newberry had taken the lead, 53-52, tense moments would lie ahead for both squads. The Bears and Lady Indians traded free throws and then possessions as no points were recorded for either team from the 2:16 mark until there were 35 seconds left in the game.
It was then that junior forward Brandi Gray converted a brilliant feed from Wright to push the Newberry edge to three, 56-53. Wright knifed into the lane and slung a two-handed overhead pass to Gray and the Georgia Perimeter College transfer kissed lay-up off the glass.
After freshman Angela Smith sank one of two free throws, Bear's coach Todd Starkey called his final timeout with 12 seconds remaining.
Newberry fouled sophomore Denise Moore on the ensuing possession and the Bear's center hit chances at the charity stripe. A Jami Safrit foul at 10 seconds sent Ashley Marine to the line and the Peachtree City, Ga. native calmly knocked down both for a 59-57 edge.
Cicely Jenkins would add one more point on a free throw before time expired and the Lady Indians prevailed 60-57.
Although some clutch shots and free throws fell to some unsung heroes, the Lady Indian offense still filtered through the junior tandem of Monica Alexander and Tonique Frasier.
Alexander, a Norcross, Ga. native, led all scorers with 17 points on 4-of-6 shooting from the floor and 7-of-8 from the charity stripe. The Newberry guard also dished out six assists and snatched three steals in 34 minutes of play.
Frasier registered her sixth double-double of the season coming off the bench for 16 points and 11 boards in 35 minutes. The Walterboro native was 6-of-11 from the field.
After shooting under 26 percent in the first half, the Lady Indians caught fire in the second stanza cashing in on 12-of-19 chances, 63.2 percent clip.
Junior shooting guard Tosha Goodman scored all eight of her points in the second half and was a key ingredient to the Lad Indians comeback.
Conversely, Lenoir-Rhyne shot 50 percent from the floor in the first half but the Newberry defense held the Bears to 33 percent in the second.
Amber Holt led the Bears with 15 points and nine rebounds on 5-of-16 shooting in 39 minutes. Jami Safrit and Denise Moore each chipped in nine points in a losing effort.
The Lady Indians host Lincoln-Memorial on Saturday at 2 p.m. at Eleazer Arena. The January 13 bout is scheduled to be televised live over the internet on College Sports Television. The men's game, also against Lincoln-Memorial will begin 25 minutes after the women's game concludes.
