Women’s Basketball Loses in SAC Quarterfinals

NEWBERRY, S.C. - Mars Hill ends the 2010-11 campaign with an 80-64 loss to the Newberry College Wolves in the quarterfinals of the Food Lion South Atlantic Conference women's basketball tournament. The Lions finish the season with a 17-10 overall record.

Newberry (17-10) picked up a quick 10-point lead on Mars Hill after Jessica Bearzatto put in six of the Wolves first 12 points to make it 12-2 after just four and a half minutes of play in Eleazer Arena.

With 13:42 to go in the first half, Mars Hill's Jessica Jones put in a layup to make it 16-7 in favor of the Wolves. Then with a Helen McKinney basket just seconds later, the Wolves would lead by a double-digit margin for the remainder of the game.

After pulling out to a 43-29 halftime lead, the Wolves then upped the ante to a 27 point lead early on in the second half after a Briana Johnson free throw shot. Leanne Watson then made it 29 with a layup as the Wolves advanced to the semifinals of the SAC Tournament.

Bearzatto shot a game high 18 pints and was 9-of-10 from the free-throw line. McKinney added 14 while Leeara Creet finished with 13 and Watson had 12. Creet was also 11-for-11 from the charity stripe. Newberry out rebounded Mars Hill 44-32.

Three Mars Hill players scored in double figures. Margaret Harvey led the way with 13 points followed by Kristen Metcalf with 12 and Jocelyn Williams added 11. Williams led the Lions in rebounds with seven. Brittini Young, who played her last game as a Lion, recorded nine points and a game high seven rebounds.