DAVIDSON, N.C. – The Newberry College women's basketball team was defeated by the Davidson Wildcats by a score of 51-85 in the teams' exhibition matchup Thursday evening.

The Wolves found themselves in a first-quarter deficit when the Wildcats went on a 10-2 scoring run in the first three minutes of the game. Newberry picked up the offense production a bit through the final seven minutes of the opening quarter, scoring nine points including one three-point shot each from junior guards Payton Cronen (Louisville, Ky.) and Faith Putz (Des Moines, Iowa). Despite the Wolves' offense picking up towards the end of the first quarter, the Wildcats outpaced the Wolves and Newberry trailed 13-24 at the first break.

Newberry again allowed the Wildcats to open the quarter on a 10-2 scoring run to start the second quarter. The run was broken by junior Dyani Burke (Columbia, S.C.) who knocked down a pair of free throws with 6:49 remaining in the second quarter. The Wolves offense once increased the offensive production following the Wildcats' scoring run, but the Wolves defense allowed Davidson to increase their lead to 27 points heading into halftime.

The Wildcats' offense was once again the tale of the game in the third quarter. However, the Wolves defense was able to keep the scoring run more in-check than in the first half, keeping the scoring run to 9-5 in favor of the Wildcats through the first seven minutes of the third quarter, and the score 60-29 in Davidson's favor. In the final two minutes of the third quarter, the Wolves hit a pair of three-pointers, first from Putz and then from sophomore guard Ella Pearson (Sudbury, Suffolk, England). Even with the duo of made shots from beyond the arc, the Wildcats scored the final three points of the quarter off of an and-one layup. Entering the final ten minutes of play, the Wolves trailed the Wildcats 35-67.

The final quarter was the Wolves best quarter offensively, tallying 16 points and three assists in the final frame. Despite the improved performance in the fourth quarter, Davidson's early lead was too much to overcome and the Wolves fell to the Wildcats 51-85.

Burke led the Wolves in scoring with 17 points followed by Putz with 11 points. Putz was also tied for the lead amongst all players with four assists. Senior guard Giulia Bongiorno (Rome, Italy) and redshirt senior center Ericka Wiseley (Mt. Pleasant, S.C.) led the team in rebounds with six each.

The Wolves open the regular season in the SAC-Peach Belt Challenge against Georgia Southwestern State next Friday, Nov. 11. Tipoff is scheduled for 3 p.m.