NEWBERRY - With double-digit performances by four Wolves, the Newberry College women's basketball team eased its way past Mars Hill, 80-64, and is headed to Hickory, N.C., for a Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Tournament semifinal match.

Newberry (17-10) picked up a quick 10 point lead on Mars Hill (17-10) after senior Jessica Bearzatto (Melbourne, Australia) put in six of the Wolves' first 12 points to make it 12-2 after just four and a half minutes of play in Eleazer Arena.

With 13:42 to go in the first half, Mars Hill forward Jessica Jones (Chattanooga, Tenn.) put in a layup to make it 16-7 in favor of the Wolves. Then with a Helen McKinney (Owensboro, Ky.) basket just seconds later, the Wolves would lead by a double-digit margin for the remainder of the game.

“Well I'm obviously pleased with the performance, especially for these seniors,” said Newberry head coach Sean Page. “We had four players in double-digit points and one with nine. We did a great job on defense with holding the conference's top offense to just 64. This is definitely one of our better 40 minute performances of the year.”

After pulling out to a 43-29 halftime lead, the Wolves then upped the ante to a 27 point lead early on in the second half after a Briana Johnson (Irmo, S.C.) free throw. Leanne Watson (Stone Mountain, Ga.) then made it 29 with a layup as the Wolves cruised past the Lions for the second time this season.

Bearzatto shot a game high 18 points, one shy of tying her career record, and was 9-of-10 from the free-throw line. McKinney, who scored 33 against the Lions earlier in the season, was good for 14 while Leeara Creet (Brisbane, Australia) finished with 13 and Watson had 12. Creet was also 11-for-11 from the charity stripe.

“The biggest stat of the game is our 27-for-31 from the line,” said Page of the Wolves stellar free throw shooting. “If you can get a lead quickly the way we did and make your free throws it's almost impossible to lose the game.”

Newberry picked up nine steals during the ballgame, forcing 17 Lion turnovers which they then turned into 18 points.

The scarlet and gray also outrebounded Mars Hill 44-32 and were led by Watson's nine. Johnson, McKinney and Creet each finished with seven.

All 13 players able to dress received playing time for coach Page's squad with underclassmen Ayana Ward (Buford, Ga.), Amanda Darnell (Marietta, S.C.), Ruta Valiulyte (Lietuva, Lithuania) and Amelia Dozier (Columbia, S.C.) all picking up minutes on the court.

Newberry will take on top-seeded Tusculum in semifinal action this Saturday, March 5, at noon in Hickory, N.C.