SAVANNAH, GA. - The Newberry College women's basketball team moved back over .500 Tuesday night by beating the Armstrong Atlantic St. Pirates on the road, 63-57.
For the third time this season, Laura Marquardt (Mt. Pleasant, S.C.) set her career high for points in a game with a game high 22 points. She also added five rebounds, four assists, and two steals. Helen McKinney (Owensboro, Ky.) reached her first double-double of the season with 17 points and 10 rebounds. The leading rebounder for NC was Monica Alexander (Norcross, Ga.) with 11.
Lacey Willis (Weatherford, Texas) dominated the low post for the Pirates and earned team highs in both points (17) and rebounds (14). Lauren Hall (Detroit, Mich.) also played well, scoring 13 points and shooting 5-8 from the field.
The scarlet and gray started off the game right by opening up the first ten minutes on a 21-11 run. McKinney was a big part of the hot start, scoring 12 of the team's initial 21 points. The Pirates improved down the stretch of the first half and cut the deficit down to three points. Newberry hung on to the lead and went into the locker room at half time up, 34-27.
The ladies from Newberry shot very well in the first half. They nailed all six of their free throw attempts and shot 44% from three-point range. The Pirates, known for their perimeter shooting, were held to 3-8 from downtown and committed eight turnovers (Newberry had only six). NC also dominated the glass in the first half, grabbing 28 boards to AASU's 19.
Anita Bulcher (Russia, Ohio) played great in the opening half and looked as if she was well on her way to her third straight double-double. She had a team high six boards along with eight points. Willis was the Pirates' leading scorer with eight points. She pulled down a team high nine boards and shot 50% from the field.
AASU opened up the second half on a 9-5 run that put them right back in the game. The scarlet and gray played great defense to stop the run, but the Pirates fought hard and gained a two point lead with seven minutes remaining in the game. NC rediscovered their shooting touch at the right time and went on an 11-3 run to earn a six point lead with three minutes remaining. The scarlet and gray held their six point lead to win the game, 63-57
Although they gave up the lead at one point, the scarlet and gray stayed almost even with the Pirates by playing great defense. They forced nine turnovers and held the sharp-shooting team to 3-12 from behind the arc.
Marquardt was lights-out from the floor in the second half and scored 12 points. She shot 3-5 from the field and was a perfect 6-6 from the charity stripe. Lindsey Holmes (Bonaire, Ga.) played well for the Pirates in the second with nine points and three blocks.
With the win, the Newberry College women's basketball team improves their record to 3-2 overall. They will play their home opener this Saturday, November 29 against Lander. Next up for Armstrong Atlantic St. (3-1) will be a home game against Limestone this Saturday.
