NEWBERRY, S.C. - Despite a career-high 17 points from junior Kendra Brown and fifth straight double-double from freshman Haylee Lepaio, the Newberry Wolves were tamed by the North Georgia Lady Saints as North Georgia topped Newberry 73-70 in overtime Friday at Eleazer Arena.
The Lady Saints (6-3) opened the game on a 12-point run that was capped by a 3-pointer from the games leading scorer Jaymee Carnes. The transfer from Wake Forest scored 39 points and grabbed 14 rebounds to lead all players in both categories.
Newberry (7-3) scored its first point on a free throw make by junior Neicey Lewis (Riverdale, Ga.). After the Wolves opened their scoring the game went back and forth as the Wolves eventually took the lead with just under ten minutes remaining in the opening half on a pair of made free throws by Lepaio (Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia).
Shortly after taking an 18-17 lead the Wolves gave the lead back to the Lady Saints.
After giving the lead back to the Lady Saints, the Wolves became tough to stop and eventually led by as many as ten points before entering halftime with an eight-point lead after Carnes hit a lay-up for the last basket of the half.
Brown (Swansea, S.C.) led the Wolves with 11 first half points, while Lewis led Newberry with five first half rebounds.
Newberry carried the momentum it took into halftime into the second half extending its lead to as many as 16 points twice, once on a made jumper from senior guard Keisha Henderson (Columbia, S.C.) and the second time on a free throw make by Lewis.
The made free throw by Lewis set off a large run by the Lady Saints as North Georgia scored 17 straight points to take a one-point lead before a layup by Lepaio put the Wolves ahead by one. Newberry followed the Lady Saints run with a seven-point run of its own before the two teams exchanged baskets until the score became tied at 61-61. The two teams missed opportunities in the final 31 seconds capped off by a missed layup right before the buzzer by Henderson.
The Lady Saints went on a 4-0 run to start the overtime period, before Lepaio put the Wolves back on the board with 3:23 remaining in the period to put the score at 65-63 with North Georgia on top. With 2:07 on the clock in the overtime period freshman Zara Pearson (Echuca, Victoria, Australia) drilled a 3-pointer to give Newberry a one-point lead. Newberry extended its lead to three points before Carnes scored the final four points of the game to secure a 73-70 North Georgia win.
Lepaio recorded her fifth straight double-double and seventh total this season with a 15-point and 10-rebound performance. Brown's 17 led the Wolves, while Lewis recorded a 15-point game of her own. Lewis added six steals and Henderson posted a four assist game.
Newberry continues its season on Wednesday January 4, 2012 when it travels to Mars Hill, N.C. to meet the Mars Hill Lions in the third South Atlantic Conference game of the season. The Wolves return home on January 11 when they host Anderson at 6 p.m.
