MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. - The Newberry College women's basketball team snapped a two game losing skid as they defeated UNC Pembroke, 57-50, in the Wolves' second and final game in the GCSU Holiday Classic.

Newberry (6-4) picked up a commanding 38-16 lead at the half, shooting 46.9 percent from the field while holding the Braves to just five field goals during the first period. UNC Pembroke (4-6) was scoreless until a pair of free throws by Dominique Washington (Redlands, Calif.) at the 14:19 mark. The Braves didn't hit a field goal until 10:50 in the first half.

Senior point guard Jessica Bearzatto (Melbourne, Australia) hit a jumper at the 19:30 mark of the second half for the Wolves as the scarlet and gray hit just one more basket in the next nine and a half minutes as the Braves cut the lead to 11. UNC Pembroke continued to chip at the lead until it was dwindled to just five with one minute to play.

A Brittany Brown (Fort Myers, Fla.) jumper followed by a pair of Helen McKinney (Owensboro, Ky.) free throws with just over 30 seconds to play put the game on ice for the Wolves.

"It's nice to win again," said Newberry head coach Sean Page. "Offensively we had a great first half but struggled a bit in the second and that's the consistency factor we need to work on. The positive is we had a chance to lose the game with four or five minutes left but we didn't. We toughened up and didn't let them take it from us."

Newberry was led once again by McKinney who had a game high 20 points, 13 of which were in the first half. Bearzatto had added nine points of her own to the effort while Briana Johnson (Irmo, S.C.) had eight.

"Brittany Brown had one of the best games she's had while at Newberry," said Page of his junior forward. "She was tough down the stretch and that was huge for us. Keisha Henderson (Columbia, S.C.) is another one that played a key role when we needed it most."

Brown had six points in 12 minutes played while Henderson had a game clinching bucket late in the second half as well as a steal.

The Wolves held tight defensively once again, keeping the Braves to just a 24.6 percent success rate from the field. Newberry also came down with 31 defensive rebounds during the win.

"Obviously our defense was great once again," said Page. "It's the reason we're in games and have a chance to walk away with a win every time we step on the court."

The Wolves will return to South Atlantic Conference play this Wednesday, Jan. 5, as they take on Mars Hill in Eleazer Arena at 6 p.m.