NEWBERRY - The Newberry College women's basketball team hosted the Pfeiffer Lady Falcons in non-conference action in a Tuesday matinee affair. Newberry (7-2) limited Pfeiffer (2-5) to only 13 field goals in the entire game and cruised to a 68-51 victory.
Newberry allowed an early three pointer from the Lady Falcons, but then exploded for the next 16 points of the game to build its lead.
Newberry managed the glass well in the opening period, outrebounding the Lady Falcons 23-15 in the half. The scarlet and gray brought down eight boards on the offensive end in the half compared to just three for Pfeiffer.
Pfeiffer clawed back into the game by successfully converting Newberry turnovers into quick points the other way. The Lady Falcons cut Newberry's lead down to eight points inside of five minutes to play in the first half. Newberry controlled the ensuing minutes, however, and extended the lead back to 12 by the end of the half. The scarlet and gray enjoyed a 38-26 lead at the intermission.
Helen McKinney (Owensboro, Ky.) led Newberry scorers in the opening half with 10 points. In only her second appearance at Newberry after serving a semester of ineligibility, Leeara Creet (Brisbane, Australia) demonstrated her potential with eight points, three rebounds and two steals at the break.
Newberry looked equally impressive in the early minutes of the second half, quickly stretching the lead to 20 in the opening five minutes after a handful of jumpers from McKinney and Creet. Newberry saw its biggest lead at 28 when a Briana Johnson (Irmo, S.C.) jumper made it 59-31 just after the midway point of the second half.
Pfeiffer improved in the dying minutes of the game, but the scarlet and gray's lead was too much. Despite outscoring Newberry down the stretch, the Lady Falcons only managed to convert on five field goals in the second half. Newberry rolled to the 68-51 victory despite turning the ball over 24 times, a number they will work to reduce as the season progresses.
Newberry shot 84.6% (22-26) from the free-throw line, which is up from their 69.9% average coming into the game. The scarlet and gray continued to play sound defense as well, holding the Lady Falcons to just 28.3% (13-46) from the field.
McKinney ended the day leading all scorers with 15 points. Amy Browne (Maroochydore, Australia) had 14 points and led the team in assists with five.
Creet proved she will have a positive impact on both sides of the ball with a well-rounded performance. She ended the afternoon with 12 points, six rebounds and two steals.
Anita Bulcher (Russia, Ohio) narrowly missed her seventh consecutive double-double with 10 rebounds and eight points. Her six consecutive games with a double-double tied her for tenth place all-time in the NCAA Division-II record book.
Newberry will host Anderson next on December 19, 2009 at 2 p.m.
