NEWBERRY- The Newberry College women’s basketball team defeated Wingate University 62-61, on Wednesday night. The win was Newberry’s second win against Wingate for the 2015-16 season. The Wolves’ last sweep against Wingate University was in the 2009-10 season.

With the win, Newberry improves to 12-9 overall and 11-4 in the South Atlantic Conference while Wingate falls to 10-8 overall and 7-7 in the SAC.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• At the half, Newberry was led by Samantha Creed with five points followed by Nicola Handreck with three. Meg Essex led the team in rebounds and blocks with five and two, respectively.
• At the half, Newberry was shooting 83.3% from the line and 36.4% from the field.
• For the game, Handreck finished with 18 points, six boards, five assists, and one block. Creed finished the game with 16 points, three assists, two steals and three blocks. Essex finished the game with four blocks, eight points and six boards.
• As a team, the Wolves shot 87.5% from the line and 46.2% from the field.

HOW IT HAPPENED

First Quarter
The Wolves started off the game slow by scoring just nine points in the first quarter. Essex put Newberry on the board with a layup at the 8:17 mark followed by a layup from Kirsten Dunsmore at the 6:40 mark.

Newberry didn’t score again until the 3:56 mark when Hannah Lepaio went 2-for-2 at the line after being fouled by Amber Neely. With 3:04 left, Creed scored Newberry’s last basket of the quarter with a 3-pointer off a pass from Shelby Britten.

Second Quarter
Going into the second quarter, Newberry was down 17-9 against the Bulldogs. Emily Perry started the scoring for the Wolves with two free throws just 23 seconds in. Scoring was quiet again for Newberry until Samara Hill hit a jumper with 5:49 left until half.

Jaya Schultz got on the board with a layup at the 5:12 mark followed by a layup from Creed a minute later.  At the 2:32 mark Colleen Leung made a jumper to make the score 30-19, in Wingate’s favor. Handreck ended the quarter for Newberry with two free throws at the 1:35 mark. Leaving the second quarter Wingate had a 34-23 lead over the Wolves.

Third Quarter
Newberry picked it up offensively in the third quarter by scoring 22 points. The Wolves scored their 22 points starting at the 6:52 mark to the end of the quarter. Hill made a layup off a pass from Handreck at 6:52 followed by a 3-pointer from Handreck at 6:16.

With 4:47 left until the final quarter Creed drained a 3-pointer to cut Wingate’s lead to 42-31. Creed scored again at the 3:46 mark with a layup off a pass from Handreck. Just 46 seconds later Handreck got on the board with a 3-pointer to cut the lead to 44-38. Handreck drained another 3-pointer with 2:16 left followed by two free throws at the 1:50 mark. Creed made the last basket for Newberry with a jumper with 36 seconds left.

Fourth Quarter
Newberry was down just five points (50-45) going into the fourth quarter. Essex started the scoring off for Newberry with a jumper off a pass from Schultz just 21 seconds in. Newberry was down two points (56-54) when Handreck drained a 3-pointer with 4:44 left in the game.

At the 3:04 mark Newberry took a 60-58 lead with a layup from Creed. Leung kept the lead for Newberry with a layup at the 2:17 mark. Creed increased the lead to 62-59 with a layup with 1:12 left until the final buzzer. Creed’s layup was the last basket for Newberry for the rest of the game.

UP NEXT
The Wolves are home again on Saturday, February 6 against Mars Hill. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. in Eleazer Arena.