HARROGATE, Tenn. - The Newberry College women's basketball team won its final game of the regular season Saturday night when they defeated the Lincoln Memorial Lady Railsplitters on the road, 78-59.
Helen McKinney (Owensboro, Ky.) had one of her best games for Newberry as she tied her career high of 25 points. She shot 7-for-16 from the floor and was a perfect 9-for-9 from the free-throw line. Anita Bulcher (Russia, Ohio) earned her eighth double-double of the season with a team high 11 rebounds and 15 points.
The leading scorer for Lincoln Memorial was Cena Nasiloski (Hammond, Ind.) with 17 points and a team high seven rebounds. Kara Harris (Alcoa, Tenn.), who was honored before the game during Senior Night celebrations, scored 15 points on 4-for-9 shooting.
The scarlet and gray came out to an 11-2 lead thanks to seven points from Anita Bulcher in the first five minutes of the game. The Lady Railsplitters brought the deficit down to two points, but Newberry held on to the lead going into the half, 40-29. NC earned its double-digit halftime lead by outscoring LMU in the paint, 22-12. Newberry also earned grabbed ten more rebounds in the opening period.
With 17:38 remaining on the clock, Lincoln Memorial cut Newberry's lead to single digits with a layup by Nasiloski. It would be the closest the Lady Railsplitters would get to a tie game as Newberry immediately went on a 15-2 run. The scarlet and gray held the Lady Railsplitters to four field goals in the final 16 minutes and won the game by 19 points.
Newberry won the game by playing solid defense and slamming the boards. The road squad held LMU to 19-for-53 form the floor on the night and grabbed 23 more rebounds than the opposition. The scarlet and gray also took advantage of LMU's 17 turnovers by scoring 23 points off TO's.
The Newberry College women's basketball team finishes the regular season at 17-10 overall and 10-6 in the SAC. The win gives the scarlet and gray the third seed in the 2009 SAC tournament, which begins this Wednesday. They will take on sixth seeded Catawba at home in the first round.
