Mars Hill, N.C. – The Newberry women's basketball team started SAC play with a trip to Mars Hill on Wednesday, earning a decisive victory by a score of 82-46.
 
Having dropped their first two games of the season, the Wolves headed to Mars Hill hungry for a win. They turned in an excellent defensive performance, holding the Lions to 24.2% from the field. Offensively, the Wolves presented a much more balanced attack as four players scored in double figures, with the team finding success both in the paint and beyond the arc.
 
Both teams struggled to find a rhythm early on as the shots would not fall, but the Wolves soon took the lead with a three-pointer from Giulia Bongiorno a minute and a half into the game, and they never looked back. Quickly building a lead with a balanced attack, Newberry hit three triples and four shots in the paint in the first quarter, tacking on a couple free throws to build a 19-3 lead.
 
After the Lions chipped away at the lead at the end of the quarter, the Wolves responded with an 8-0 run early in the second, establishing a tone they would maintain throughout the night. The defense was excellent in the first half, holding Mars Hill to 20.7% from the field en route to a 41-16 advantage at the break.
 
Playing with greater control than their opponent, the Wolves won the turnover battle in the half, holding a 15-4 edge in points off turnovers and an 8-2 edge in fast break points. They shot over 50% from the field in the second quarter as six of their seven makes were in the paint.
 
But the Lions would not go down quietly, and they were able to make some halftime adjustments to generate more offense. Going on a 10-0 run starting late in the second quarter, they cut the deficit to 19. But the Wolves responded by clamping down on defense, holding Mars Hill to six points over the remainder of the period to extend the lead to 31.
 
Holding a big lead in the fourth quarter, the Wolves were able to rest their starters and bring in several players off the bench. 13 different players scored on the night as the team scored a game-high 23 points in the fourth, finishing the night with 43.9% shooting from the field.
 
Four Wolves scored in double figures, led by Giulia Bongiorno's 14 points, along with Holly Davies, Tyla Stolberg, and Mylaysia Gates. Stolberg was a perfect 4-4 from the field in scoring her 11 points, while Gates recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds in just 19 minutes of play. The team spread the ball well on the night, with Bongiorno, Payton Cronen, Courtney Virgo, and Ella Pearson each dishing out three assists.
 
Defensively, April Rummery-Lamb led all players with four blocks in 12 minutes of play, followed by Stolberg with two blocks. Virgo and Gates both recorded two steals. The Wolves outrebounded their opponent for the third consecutive game, holding a 58-36 advantage on the boards.
 
With their first conference game of the season being a victory, Newberry will face another SAC foe on Saturday, November 20 as Limestone University comes to town for a 2:00 p.m. tipoff at Eleazar Arena.