NEWBERRY - A 40-point performance by the Newberry College bench, including 20 points from junior Neicey Lewis and 14 from freshman Emily Perry, helped push the Wolves to a 66-60 victory over the visiting Catawba Lady Indians.
After freshman Haylee Lepaio (Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia) scored the opening points of the game, the remainder of the first half belonged to the Lady Indians (17-9, 12-6 South Atlantic Conference) as Catawba led by as many as 10 points in the opening period.
Newberry (15-11, 10-8 SAC) was led in the first half by Lepaio's six points and eight rebounds.
Catawba extended its lead to as many as 14 points in the second period before Newberry began to climb back into the game. A pair of free throws by Lewis (Riverdale, Ga.) cut the Catawba lead to a 20-6 run by the Wolves which gave Newberry a one point lead with just over seven minutes remaining.
The Wolves and Lady Indians exchanged leads for the next five minutes before Lewis' layup with 2:16 remaining put the Wolves up by two. Newberry finished out the game 9-10 from the free throw line in the final 77 seconds of the game pushing the Wolves to a six-point victory.
Lewis finished with a team-high 20 points off the bench, while Lepaio grabbed 13 rebounds. Perry (Nambour, Queensland, Australia) scored a career high 14 points and was 4-7 from the 3-point line.
Newberry will continue the season on Wednesday as the Wolves open the 2012 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Women's Basketball Championship on the road at Tusculum.