GREENEVILLE, Tenn. - Haylee Lepaio scored 18 points and snagged nine rebounds as the Wolves opened up 2014 with a 71-56 loss inside of Pioneer Arena against the Tusculum Pioneers.

Newberry (6-4, 2-4 SAC) opened the game with a pair of baskets to take 4-0 lead over the Pioneers (1-9, 1-5 SAC). The Wolves maintained the lead over the opening 15 minutes of the game, before a 3-pointer by Blakely Burleson tied the game at 22-22, the Pioneers followed up Burleson's three with a steal and a fast break basket from Shynese Whitener to take their first lead of the game.

The Wolves answered on the following possession with a 3-pointer from junior Kaitlynn Pacholke (Tampa, Fla.) to take a 25-24 lead. The one-point advantage was short lived as the Pioneers regained the lead with 3:54 remaining in the opening period and saw the lead reach a 10-point differential entering halftime.

The second half belonged to the Pioneers as the home side held its lead from wire-to-wire, reaching a high point at the 4:46 mark as Burleson hit a 3-pointer to push the lead to 26 points.

Tusculum took advantage of Newberry's 27 turnovers on the evening to net 32 points off turnovers.

Lepaio (Bathurst, New South Wales), a junior, led the Wolves with 18 points and nine rebounds. Senior Tasia Holdorf (Anchorage, Alaska) finished the night with 11 points and five rebounds, junior Zara Pearson (Echuca, Victoria, Australia) also finished with five rebounds and four assists. Senior Ellie Gleeson (Albury, New South Wales, Australia) passed out five assists, while Pacholke netted eight points to go along with three assists.

Newberry returns to action on Wednesday, January 8 at Catawba. Newberry will look for revenge agains the Lady Indians, who knocked off Newberry inside of Eleazer Arena in November, as the Wolves and Catawba are set to tip-off at 6 p.m.