MARS HILL, N.C. - The Newberry College women's basketball team won their 2008-09 season opener at the Biltmore Farms Mars Hill Classic Saturday defeating the Chowan University Hawks, 71-57.

Laura Marquardt (Mt. Pleasant, S.C.) led the way for the scarlet and gray with team highs in points (18), assists (5), and steals (4). Monica Alexander (Norcross, Ga.) also played well with 15 points and four rebounds. Leading the team in boards was Helen McKinney (Owensboro, Ky.) with nine. She also added 14 points and two steals.

Ransheda Jennings (Suffolk, Va.) and Maddie Cummings (Orlando, Fla.) were the leading scorers for the Hawks with 13 each. Brittany Nicholson (Greensboro, Va.) and Najah Harris (West Orange, N.J.) tied for the team high in rebounds with four a piece.

Newberry started the first half off right and opened up an 11-4 lead on Chowan. The Hawks were able to tie the game back up by playing pressure defense and holding the scarlet and gray scoreless for nearly seven minutes. Newberry then went on a 10-3 run helped by two three-pointers from Marquardt. Newberry finished the first half on top of Chowan, 33-19.

Although the scarlet and gray were leading at the half, they still shot only 35.7% compared to the Hawk's percentage of 42.1%. Their 14 point lead can be credited to forcing turnovers as Chowan committed 18 TO's compared to Newberry's eight.

Marquardt was a big help to her team, leading them in both total points (13) and steals (3) in the first half. Cummings led the way for the Hawks in the first half with team highs in total points (5) and rebounds (3).

Newberry played strong out of the break and Chowan had no answer early. They were shooting the ball much better and led by as much as 27 points. Chowan never gave up and even cut the deficit to 13 at one point. The scarlet and gray's lead was just too much as the Hawks fell, 71-57.

The second half was similar to the first as Newberry shot at a lower percentage than there opponent (41.7% to 52%). Although Chowan cut down on their turnovers, they once again turned it over more than Newberry which took them out of the game.

Anita Bulcher (Russia, Ohio) stepped up in the second half earning 11 points and sinking all seven of her free throw attempts. Chowan's Jennings also played well in the second half, scoring nine of her 13 points in the final half.

The season opening win puts the Newberry College women's basketball team at 1-0 overall. They will return to Stanford Arena for their second game of the tournament on Sunday to face Virginia Intermont at 2 p.m. Chowan (0-1) will compete in their next game on Sunday against Mars Hill at 4:00 p.m.