GREENEVILLE, TENN. – The Newberry women's basketball team fell to the Tusculum Pioneers by a final score of 75-54 on Monday afternoon at Pioneer Arena. With the loss the Wolves move to 11-5 (5-4 SAC) on the year while the Pioneers improve to 12-4 (5-4 SAC).
Newberry, playing their second game in three days, fell behind early in the game as Tusculum held a double-digit advantage early into first quarter before
Meg Essex scored seven straight points to trim the Pioneers lead.
The Pioneers began the second quarter with an impressive run and led by as many as 14 points.
Saylor Whitesides provided some valuable minutes for the Wolves off the bench as the Wolves ended the first half on a 14-4 run to cut the deficit to only five points at halftime. Whitesides assisted McCarty on a savvy no-look pass where the senior knocked down the shot.
The Wolves nearly made it a one-possession game multiple times as the third quarter began. Following a three-point play from Tusculum, Newberry guards
Taylor Campbell and
Shelby Britten each knocked down shots to pull within four points. Tusculum was able to respond as the Pioneers drew foul after foul on the Wolves, knocking down eight shots from the charity stripe in the third quarter alone.
Tusculum led 51-42 entering into the fourth quarter and immediately went on a 7-2 run to put the game essentially out of reach for the Wolves.
Essex had an impressive day as the senior led all scorers as she recorded a double-double with 24 points and 11 rebounds. McCarty hit 3-of-4 shots from behind the arc and finished with 13 points total in the game.
POSTGAME NOTES:
- Meg Essex has recorded a double-double for the third straight game and the eight time this season
UP NEXT: The Wolves will play on short rest once again as they host Coker on Wednesday evening at Eleazer Arena.
