JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. - The Newberry College Lady Indians started the year 2008 in style with a 66-53 win over Carson-Newman College in SAC action Saturday night. Tonique Frasier recorded a double-double with 26 points and 12 rebounds.

Newberry (10-3, 1-1 South Atlantic Conference) defeated Carson-Newman (6-7, 1-1 SAC) for the fourth consecutive time over the last two seasons.

The Lady Eagles led, 30-29, at halftime, but the Lady Indians outscored the hosts by 14 points in the second half to record the victory.

Carson-Newman started the game with the hot hand, taking a seven-point lead in the opening five minutes of the game. The Lady Indians tied the game back up at 13-all with 8:58 until the break on a triple from Hanna Porter (Brandon, Miss.).

The Lady Eagles would lead by as many as five points before the break, but Newberry cut the halftime deficit to one point on a late layup from Carnicha Bellinger (Greenville, S.C.).

Bellinger would give the Lady Indians their first lead of the game on the opening possession of the second half with a three-pointer giving Newberry a 32-30 lead. However, the Lady Eagles quickly regained the lead with a 6-0 run.

Newberry tied the game back up at 43-all on a pair of Laura Marquardt (Mt. Pleasant, S.C.) free throws and claimed the lead for good on another Belinger triple. A 7-0 Newberry run helped cement the game for the Lady Indians.

Bellinger was the second Lady Indian in double-digits scoring with 12 points. Carson-Newman was led by 15 points from Angela Volentine.

Newberry returns to Eleazer Arena for its South Atlantic Conference home opener Wednesday night against Mars Hill. It will be MHC's conference opener. Tipoff is slated for 6 p.m.