MARS HILL, NC- The Newberry women's basketball team came up just short on the road Wednesday night, falling 70–65 to Mars Hill in a tight South Atlantic Conference matchup at Stanford Arena. The Wolves, who entered the night undefeated, move to 6–1 overall and 0–1 in league play after a hard-fought game that featured eight ties and nine lead changes.
Newberry was led by the duo of Leigha Harris and Rickell Brown, who each poured in 19 points to keep the Wolves in striking distance throughout the contest. Harris finished 8–17 from the floor while adding eight rebounds, two steals, and steady scoring in crucial stretches. Brown delivered another all-around performance with 19 points, four steals, two blocks, and 38 minutes played, sparking Newberry's energy on both ends of the floor.
After a slow first quarter offensively, Newberry responded with a strong push in the middle periods. The Wolves outscored Mars Hill 21–20 in the second quarter and followed with an 18–9 third quarter, using aggressive defense, transition steals, and improved ball movement to flip the momentum. Timely baskets from Harris, Brown, and Regahn Williams helped Newberry build a lead heading into the final ten minutes.
The fourth quarter, however, swung in Mars Hill's favor. The Lions erupted for 26 points in the final frame, fueled by consistent free-throw shooting and second-chance opportunities on the glass. Despite Newberry's efforts—including tough interior scoring, defensive stops, and late free throws from Marykate Kent—the Wolves were unable to withstand the Lions' late run Newberry finished with strong defensive numbers, tallying 13 steals, six blocks, and 22 points off turnovers while scoring 32 points in the paint. Williams added eight points, Kent contributed eight of her own along with key free throws, and Jada Brown anchored the boards with a team-high nine rebounds.
Newberry returns home on Saturday, December 6, for a 2:00 p.m. matchup against UVA Wise at Eleazer Arena
