NEWBERRY - In a back-and-forth battle inside Eleazer Arena, the Newberry women's basketball team picked up a 75-66 victory over the Carson-Newman Lady Eagles as sophomore Samantha Creed scored 35 points in the Wolves' annual Play4Kay game, making Creed the first Newberry player to eclipse 30 points since the 2010-11 season.
Newberry (17-7, 9-5 SAC) surrendered the opening basket, before taking control of the game over the next five minutes as the Wolves jumped out to a six-point lead over the visiting Lady Eagles (13-8, 7-7 SAC). Carson-Newman battled back to not only tie the game, but take a lead at the 13:31 mark. Junior Tasia Holdorf (Anchorage, Alaska) quickly answered with a jumper to tie the game at 17-17.
Once again, Carson-Newman took a lead over the Wolves only to be turned back shortly thereafter as Creed (Montmorency, Victoria, Australia) hit a 3-pointer to put the Wolves up 20-19. Neither team was able to gain much on the defensive end as the Lady Eagles and Wolves quickly exchanged baskets over the next ten minutes.
Carson-Newman took control in final minutes of the first period extending its lead to as many as eight points before the Wolves fought to head to the locker room at half down by only five as the Lady Eagles led at halftime 41-36.
Creed led all scorers with 13 points in the first half, while junior Devanee Taylor (Chester, Va.) added 11 in the opening period.
Carson-Newman remained in control for the first five minutes of the second half leading by as many as eight points with only 13:52 remaining in the half. Down 52-44, the Wolves responded to the eight-point deficit with a jumper by Taylor and a 3-pointer by Creed to pull within three. An exchange of 3-point makes by Carson-Newman's Tatum Burstrom and Creed kept the Wolves within three, before Holdorf struck again on a layup to cut the Lady Eagles' lead to one.
Creed's layup with 9:48 on the clock put the Wolves ahead by one, before Carson-Newman and Newberry exchanged points over the next six minutes ending in a 64-64 score with 3:48 on the clock. Creed again struck on a layup to give Newberry a two point lead. Up by two, the Wolves saw Creed hit four straight free throws to put Newberry up by six. Carson-Newman kept the game close until the final 20 seconds, which saw senior Kendra Brown (Swansea, S.C.) and Taylor hit a pair of free throws each to give Newberry a nine-point 75-66 victory.
Creed finished the afternoon with 35 points, while hitting five 3-pointers, grabbing seven rebounds, posting two steals and recording both an assist and blocked shot. Creed's 35-point performance Is a career high for the Australian, who scored 28 points in the Wolves' season opener against UNC Pembroke.
Creed is now tied for the fourth most points in a single game at Newberry College with former Newberry players Anita Bulcher (2/17/2010) and Latonia Allen (1/11/1990). Creed's 35 points is the most by a Newberry player since Bulcher's performance in 2010. The last Newberry player to eclipse 30 points was Helen McKinney against Mars Hill on February 2, 2011.
Taylor tallied a career high 15 points, while Holdorf added nine from the bench. Taylor, Brown and junior Ellie Gleeson (Albury, New South Wales, Australia) each recorded five assists, while Taylor also grabbed a team-high eight rebounds. Gleeson and Taylor both recorded two blocked shots on the afternoon.
Newberry hits the floor inside of Eleazer Arena once again on Wednesday as the Wolves play host to Brevard at 6 p.m.
