NEWBERRY – Despite overcoming a 17-point halftime deficit to take a fourth quarter lead, the Newberry Wolves (13-7, 7-6 SAC) were unable to complete the comeback against the visiting Tusculum Pioneers (14-6, 7-6 SAC), falling by a score of 71-63.
 
The Wolves got on the board first with a 5-0 run to open the game, but struggled to find offense after that. The early first quarter effort was marred by turnovers and missed shots, allowing the Pioneers to go on a massive 20-2 run to end the frame with a 20-7 lead.
 
Despite continuing to turn the ball over in the second quarter, the Wolves fared much better overall, keeping the damage to a minimum and entering the locker room behind by a score of 36-19.
 
The Pioneers balanced offensive effort carried them as they were able to connect on 16 shots in the first half, while a staunch defensive effort held the Wolves to a meager 25 percent from the floor, hitting on just 6-24 in the first half.
 
The Pioneers employed a full-court press tactic that forced 16 first half turnovers from the Wolves, more than double the seven first-half turnovers they gave away.
 
With their work cut out for them, the Wolves exploded out of the gate in the second half, outscoring the Pioneers 24-15 in the third quarter to cut the lead to single-digits.
 
Newberry rode the hot hand of Courtney Lyons, who shot 6-11 from the floor in the second half, and finally clawed back to claim a 60-59 lead on a Julie Kinard three-pointer with less than five minutes remaining in the game.
 
Kinard, a redshirt freshman who's seen no more than five minutes in any game this season, was able to provide a spark on the defensive end in 12 quality minutes against Tusculum as well as recording a career-high five points.
 
Despite an incredible effort to claw back into the lead, it was not to be for the Wolves. The Pioneers ended the game on a 12-3 run to claim the victory, moving ahead of Newberry in the conference standings.
 
Tusculum ended the game with four players in double figures, led by 18 points from Jasmine Williams on 7-13 from the floor.
 
The Wolves were led by Courtney Lyons with 13 points, Meg Essex with 12 points, and Shelby Britten with 10 points, while Regan McCarty led the way with 10 rebounds on the day.
 
Newberry will be back in action on Wednesday, February 6 when they take on Lenoir-Rhyne at Eleazer Arena at 6:00 pm. In their first matchup this season, the Wovles claimed a 75-68 victory over the Bears.