SALISBURY, N.C. - A 21-point game by junior Neicey Lewis wasn't enough for Newberry as costly turnovers at the end of regulation caused the Wolves to drop a 58-53 decision to the Catawba Lady Indians.

A tightly contested first half opened with the Lady Indians (11-5, 6-2 South Atlantic Conference) and Wolves (10-6, 5-3) exchanging baskets before a Dana Hicks jumper put Catawba up by five. Newberry responded as freshman Haylee Lepaio (Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia) scored on back-to-back possessions to bring the Wolves within one.

Catawba's attempts to pull away from the Wolves were unsuccessful until with 11:09 remaining in the first half, Hicks put the Lady Indians up by six. The six-point lead by Catawba was the largest of the half, but triggered a run by the Wolves that was capped off by Lewis' (Riverdale, Ga.) layup with 6:17 remaining in the half that tied the game at 26-26. A pair of made free throws by Lewis with 5:01 on the clock, gave the Wolves their first lead of the game.

Newberry's lead was quickly erased as Elizabeth Merritt tied the game before Taylor May gave the Lady Indians the two-point lead, which Catawba would take into the locker room at halftime.

Lewis led the Wolves with 12 points at half, while Lepaio tallied 10. Senior Keisha Henderson (Columbia, S.C.) finished the opening frame with four assists.

The second half opened in a promising fashion for the Wolves as just over four minutes into the second half the Wolves had jumped out to a six-point lead on a 3-pointer by Lewis. Newberry continued to lead deep into the game until Hicks hit a jumper putting the Lady Indians ahead by one. Newberry surrendered back-to-back turnovers allowing the Lady Indians to extend their lead to three.

Made free throws by Lepaio and Henderson put the Wolves down by one. A blocked shot by Lepaio with 49 seconds on the clock gave the Wolves the ball down by a point, but a turnover by Newberry returned the ball to Catawba.

Unable to make anything out of the fresh possession, Catawba turned the ball over to the Wolves with 17 seconds left in regulation. As was the case with Catawba, Newberry turned the ball back over to the Lady Indians, who scored on a layup by Maggie Sullivan to take a three point lead. A pair of made free throws by Catawba's Nisha Long secured the 58-53 victory for the Lady Indians.

Lewis led all scorers with 21 points, while Lepaio added 13 points of her own. Lepaio led the Wolves with seven rebounds. Henderson's seven assists in the game give her 201 in her career.

Newberry returns home to Eleazer Arena on Wednesday evening for a 6 p.m. meeting with Brevard.