NEWBERRY - The Newberry College women's basketball team faced off against the Lady Pirates of Armstrong Atlantic State University in Newberry's home opener on Wednesday night. Newberry's defense held late in the game in order for the scarlet and gray to hold on for a hard-fought 64-61 victory.
Newberry (3-1) had to fight for it, but can find satisfaction in the discipline they showed and the way they held on down the stretch.
“I am extremely proud of the continuous fight our team showed late in the game,” John Lesaine said afterwards. “Armstrong Atlantic is an excellent team and they're very well coached. I'm happy to get this win but there are certainly some areas of our game that we need to improve upon.”
Newberry quickly stretched out a 10-2 lead in the game, but the Lady Pirates responded with an eight-point run to tie the game as quickly as Newberry had pulled ahead. After that, the teams exchanged possessions for most of the first half, often going minutes at a time without a whistle or interruption.
Helen McKinney (Owensboro, Ky.) made a pair of three pointers late in the half to put Newberry back up by four points, the same lead they took into the locker room at the midway point. Mckinney ended the half shooting .750 (3-4) from three-point range and had 12 points at the break.
Newberry clung to their small lead early in the second half until a four-point scoring run momentarily put the Lady Pirates on top.
With the score tied late in the game, Jessica Bearzatto (Melbourne, Australia) stole the ball away from the Pirates and raced up the court on the fast break. Bearzatto instinctively drew the foul on the ensuing layup attempt as the ball barely stayed out of the basket, denying her the three-point-play opportunity. The junior went to the line and knocked down both free throws to put Newberry back on top, and then came back less than a minute later with a sixteen-foot jumper from the left side to stretch that lead to four.
As the final seconds waned off the clock, the Lady Pirates used a long possession to attempt to find an open look and tie the game. Newberry's defense was tenacious, and it was obvious the scarlet and gray weren't going to let it slip away. Newberry contested every shot attempt the Lady Pirates could find, and as the final horn sounded the ball fell innocently to the floor to end the game.
“I saw our team come together at the end of the game. The defensive stand at the very end was great, and it will give us confidence and momentum as we move forward.”
McKinney was Newberry's point leader with 14 points, but four Newberry players ended the day in double digits. Anita Bulcher (Russia, Ohio) contributed 13 points as well as 12 rebounds for her second double-double in as many games. Bearzatto ended her night with 12 points and a team-leading 4 assists. Leanne Watson (Stone Mountain, Ga.) had 10 points and was one rebound short of the double-double with nine.
The game marked the third consecutive game for Newberry against a Peach Belt Conference. Newberry finished the stretch at 2-1 against the in-region PBC. Newberry will stay at home to face Morris on Saturday, November 28.
