COLUMBIA- The Newberry College women’s basketball team fell to Benedict College 69-56 on Thursday, December 31.

Newberry scored just nine points in the first quarter with Samara Hill scoring four of those points. Benedict took an early 0-9 lead until the 7:42 mark when Hill scored a 3-pointer off a pass from Hannah Lepaio. Newberry didn’t score again until Jaya Schultz made two free throws with just under four minutes left in the first quarter. Shelby Britten hit a free throw at the 3:04 mark followed by a free throw from Hill. Brandi Hall made a layup closing the first quarter for Newberry.

Going into the second quarter Benedict had an 18-9 lead. Like the first quarter, Newberry only scored nine points in the second quarter. Samantha Creed hit a 3-pointer early on to cut the lead to 18-12 with the assist going to Emily Perry. Newberry didn’t score again until five minutes later (4:49) when Britten went 2-for-2 from the line. With 2:06 left until halftime, Hall went 1-for-1 at the line followed by Hill who drained a 3-pointer with 1:19 left. Hill’s basket was the last shot made for Newberry until the third quarter.

Newberry picked up the pace offensively in the third quarter with four made 3-pointers. Lepaio started the quarter early with a three-point play. Lepaio was fouled going up for a layup in the first minute and made the free throw that came after. Creed hit a 3-pointer just a minute later (8:12) followed by a 3-pointer from Hill with 5:53 left. Hill drained another 3-pointer less than a minute later to give Benedict only a seven point lead (37-30).

Britten brought the game within four points with a basket from the arch but Benedict answered back quickly with a 3-pointer from Regime McCombs. At the 3:52 mark, Britten made both free throws and was sent back to the line at the 1:49 mark where she made both again. In the last minute of the third quarter, Britten made a layup and Kirsten Dunsmore went 1-for-2 from the line.

Going into the fourth quarter, Benedict was only up 46-40. Newberry scored 16 points in the final quarter compared to Benedict’s 23, giving Benedict the win. Creed scored for Newberry from the arch at the 8:37 mark followed by Schultz scoring two shots from the line. Creed made a free throw at the 2:27 mark and 27 seconds later Schultz made a layup to be down 10 points.

Britten finished the final minute of the game for Newberry scoring eight points. Britten hit back-to-back 3-pointers followed by a layup.

For the game, Britten led the team with 20 points and two assists. Hill finished with 13 points and one rebound while Creed finished with 10 points, five rebounds, one block, and one steal.

The Wolves host Lenoir-Rhyne on Wednesday, January 6 at 6 p.m.