MISENHEIMER, N.C. - A career high 32-point performance by Newberry College senior Helen McKinney (Owensboro, Ky.) helped give the Wolves the edge they needed as they took down Conference Carolinas foe Pfeiffer University, 70-57.

McKinney's 11-for-25 from the field, 5-for-14 from beyond the three-point line, performance is the ninth-highest single game points performance in school history.

Newberry (2-2) stuttered coming out of the gates, falling behind 9-0 to Pfeiffer (2-4) within the first two minutes of play with senior point guard Jessica Bearzatto (Melbourne, Australia) scoring the only basket for the Wolves in the first four minutes of the game.

McKinney then kicked off her scoring clinic, putting in her first of five three point buckets of the game at the 16-minute mark of the first half to make it 11-5 Falcons. The Wolves then chipped away at the lead until McKinney struck again, this time giving Newberry the 1-point advantage with 10:30 left to play in the first period. Newberry ended the half up two points, 34-32.

Coming out of the locker rooms it was McKinney once again, this time for two as the Wolves started to pull away. A pair of layups by Bearzatto and teammate Leeara Creet (Brisbane, Australia) put Newberry up by eight before McKinney nailed another jumper to put the lead up to 10.

The scarlet and gray then went on a cold spell, making just one field goal in six minutes, allowing the Falcons to come within two points with just over three minutes to play, but back-to-back threes by Bearzatto and McKinney put the game away for good for the Wolves.

“I'm pleased that we finally won one after two tough losses last week,” said Newberry head coach Sean Page. “We needed to get back on the winning side so I'm happy we got this one under our belt tonight.”

Newberry ended the game going 23-of-57 from the field as a team and were led by McKinney's 32 points with Creet the only other player in double digits with 10. The Wolves outrebounded their opponent once again, grabbing 37 boards to the Falcons 30.

“Our defense was solid once again, holding a good shooting team to just 57 points and 25 in the second half,” added Page. “Our offense is slowly improving and we got a lot more touches in the post like we were looking for. That really opens things up for Helen to make some shots and I think we saw that tonight.”

Newberry scored 24 of their 70 total points in the paint.

The Wolves will be back on the court this Tuesday, Nov. 30, as they host North Greenville at 5:30 p.m.