NEWBERRY - The Lions of Mars Hill used last second heroics from Brittini Young to edge out the Newberry Lady Indians 62-60.  The Lady Indians suffer their first home loss of the season and fall to 10-4 and 1-2 in South Atlantic Conference play.  Mars Hill College wins its conference opener and moves to 9-3 on the season.

Newberry and Mars Hill came into the game ranked first and second in the SAC in scoring defense, respectively. 

Newberry did not waste any time showing off its top ranked defense.  The Lady Indians held the visitors to only one field goal in the opening three minutes while building a 8-3 lead.  Mars Hill battled back with a pair of two point buckets in a 30 second time span to get within one. 

Over the next six minutes, Newberry turned up the heat and ran out to a 21-9 lead.  Led by Tonique Frasier's (Walterboro, S.C.) 16 first half points, the Lady Indians built a 20 point lead.  Mars Hill was able to chip away at the lead prior to half time.  However, Newberry did take a 15 point lead into halftime by a score of 35-20.

The two teams seemed content trading baskets to start the second period.  But with 16:48 on the clock and trailing 40-25, Mars Hill began to mount an improbable comeback.  Courtesy of a 13-2 run by the Lions, the visitor got within four points with just over 11 minutes to play in the game.  After Newberry regained an eight point lead with 10:25 on the clock, Mars Hill fought their way back and tied the game at 49-49 with less than five minutes remaining.

The teams exchanged points with Newberry always holding the slight edge.  With under a minute to play, Janine Ward (Tallevast, Fla) drained a pair of free throws to give the Lady Indians a five point lead. 

A lay-up by the Lions' Ariel Okunowo, who had 11 points on the night, cut the lead to three points.  Newberry's Ashlee Wright (Myrtle Beach, S.C.) converted a free throw to make it a two possession game with 34 seconds left in the game. 

Mars Hill's Terry Shamia nailed a jumper to bring the visitors within two points at 60-58 and 25 seconds on the clock.  Following a foul by Mars Hill, the Lady Indians were unable to convert either free throw giving hope to the visitors. 

With three seconds left and trailing by two points, the Lions' Lindsay Roberts was fouled.  Roberts converted the second attempt allowing Newberry to maintain the slight one point edge. 

With the game seemingly in hand for the Lady Indians, their ensuing inbound pass was stolen at half court by Mars Hill's Brittini Young.  Young took two dribbles and launched a potential game winning shot that hit the back board and fell in giving the visiting Lions a two point lead with 0.1 seconds on the clock.  Newberry's last effort fell short.

Newberry was led by Tonique Frasier's game high 24 points.  Frasier earned her sixth double-double of the season with 10 rebounds.  Frasier has recorded a double-double in five of Newberry's last six games.  Ashlee Wright added 10 points for the Lady Indians.  Laura Marquardt (Mt. Pleasant, S.C.) led Newberry's defensive efforts with three steals and a block.

Mars Hill was led by Jessica Blanford's 14 points.  Ariel Okunowo added 11 points and Lindsay Roberts contributed with 10 points.  Allison Schafer had a game-high 11 rebounds.

Newberry returns to action on Saturday when they host Lenoir-Rhyne.  Tip off is scheduled for 2 p.m.