Newberry, S.C. (January 8, 2022) - The Newberry Wolves Women's basketball team took down Mars Hill on Saturday (Jan. 8) 71-46 in a crucial conference win to get their first victory of 2022, inside Eleazer Arena. 

With the win, the Wolves improve to 3-11 overall (3-8 SAC) and Mars Hill drops to 1-11 (1-9 SAC) on the season. The Wolves have now won 11 straight against Mars Hill dating back to 2016. 

The Wolves opened Saturday's game on a 10-2 run by starting the game with a three-pointer from Courtney Virgo to score the game's first points. Mars Hill managed to put together a late first quarter surge to cut the lead down to two (12-10). The Mountain Lions run was silenced by a long two-pointer from Holly Davies to end the first quarter. 

Newberry extended their lead to ten points (34-24) going into halftime, behind three second-quarter three-pointers from Giulia Bongiorno who led the Wolves in scoring with 20 points in just three quarters.

The Wolves women started the second half by putting on a defensive clinic, outscoring Mars Hill 26-8 in the third quarter. Newberry held Mars Hill scoreless in the first seven minutes of the third quarter. Giulia Bongiorno opened the second half with a steal and fastbreak layup to send the Wolves on a 14-0 run that ran midway into the third period. The Wolves' run was capped off by a three-pointer from England native Holly Davies. 

Giulia Bongiorno lead all Wolves in scoring and assists with 20 points and four assists, while shooting an impressive 50-percent (4-8) from downtown. Mylaysia Gates was also a key player in the win, scoring nine points and snatching four rebounds. Courtney Virgo led the wolves in rebounding with six rebounds accompanied by six points on 2-for-6 shooting from beyond-the-arc. 

Newberry finished the game shooting a stellar 44-percent from the field and 31-percent from three to defeat Mars Hill 71-46, just 11 points shy of their season-high (82).

UP NEXT

Newberry Women's basketball hits the road to face conference foe Catawba on Saturday, January 15 inside Abernathy Physical Education Center. Tip-off is slated for 2 p.m