NEWBERRY - The Newberry College women's basketball team extended its winning streak to four games Saturday by defeating the No. 16 Wingate Bulldogs, 95-90. It was their first South Atlantic Conference game of the season.
Laura Marquardt (Mt. Pleasant, S.C.) had another career day on Saturday, leading her team in points with 28. That mark is her new career high and the most any player has scored in a game for Newberry this season (men or women). She shot 9-for-17 from the field, 6-for-8 from behind the arc, and a perfect 4-for-4 from the foul line.
Sade Coates (Meridian, Miss.) also had a career game, setting her new career highs in both points (18) and rebounds (9). Monica Alexander (Norcross, Ga.) and Helen McKinney (Owensboro, Ky.) each scored 18 points. Alexander also earned eight assists, six rebounds, and shot 11-for-12 from the free throw line. McKinney added eight rebounds and five steals.
Kurie Washington (Marion, N.C.) led the way for the Bulldogs, leading her team in both points (26) and rebounds (6). Anna Atkinson (Marion, N.C.) was also on top of her game with 17 points and a team high seven assists.
The first half was full of excitement as both teams were knocking down shots with ease. The scarlet and gray earned the first substantial lead of the game by going up 22-15, but the Bulldogs answered back with a 12 point unanswered run. Wingate held onto their lead and went back into the locker room with a 49-47 lead.
Both teams shot lights out in the first half and put up great numbers. Newberry shot 57.1% from the floor and 66.7% from three-point range. Wingate topped the home team by shooting a blistering 63.3% from the field and 50% from behind the arc. Newberry only turned the ball over seven times, but Wingate took advantage of them with 12 points off turnovers.
During the break it was clear that Marquardt was going to set a new career high. She scored 18 points in the first half on 4-for-5 shooting from downtown. Atkinson had a great first half for Wingate with 11 points and five assists.
The Bulldogs did a great job protecting their lead at the start of the second half but Newberry eventually took over the game. With almost 13 minutes remaining, the scarlet and gray went on a 16-4 run to take a seven-point lead.
Newberry never gave up the lead but Wingate did their best to make it interesting. The Bulldogs had an opportunity to tie with 25 seconds left, but a missed layup and two free throws from Keena Phillips (Milwaukee, Wisc.) sealed the game for the scarlet and gray.
The scarlet and gray continued to shoot well from the field but their defense ultimately won them the game. They held Wingate to only 37.8% from the floor and 33.3% from three-point range. Newberry kept up their great shooting through the second half. They shot 48.1% from the field and 50% from behind the arc.
After a rough first half, current SAC Player of the Week McKinney finished well, scoring 14 of her 18 points in the second half. Washington led the Bulldogs in the final half with 13 points and four boards.
This was Newberry's fourth straight victory, putting them at 6-2 overall and 1-0 in the SAC. They will take a week long break before hitting the road to play Anderson this Saturday, December 13 at 2 p.m. Wingate, now 5-2 overall and 0-1 in the SAC, will travel to Anderson next on Wednesday, December 17 at 7 p.m.
