Women’s Basketball Loses to Wolves

MARS HILL, N.C. - The Lions' women's basketball team lost to SAC foe Newberry College 58-47 Wednesday eveing in Stanford Arena. Mars Hill fell to 7-5 overall and 0-3 in the SAC. The Wolves improved to 8-3 on the season and 3-0 in the league.

Haylee Lepaio and Keisha Henderson led Newberry with 12 points each, while Lepaio added 12 rebounds to her line. It was Lapaio's sixth consecutive double-double. Neicey Lewis finished with 10 points and seven rebounds, while Kendra Brown scored eight points and recorded eight rebounds. Ansley Ricker led all scorers with 14 points for Mars Hill, while Armeka Booker recorded 10 rebounds to lead Mars Hill. Danielle Tucker was the only other Lion in double figures with 10 points. Newberry won the battle of the boards, 49-36.

Newberry and Mars Hill opened the game with a scoreless two-and-a-half minutes before the Lions started the scoring with a free throw make by Erica Warren. The Wolves scored their first points of the evening on a layup by Devanee Taylor.

Taylor's basket set-up scoring on back-to-back possessions by the Wolves, which helped the Wolves tie the game at 6-6 when a few possessions later Lepaio knotted the game at 6-6.

Mars Hill continued to battle in its home gym as the Lions regained the lead on a 3-pointer by Ricker at 13:44 in the half. The 3-pointer was one of four that the Lions would hit during the first half, which allowed Mars Hill to extend its lead by as many as six points in the first half. The two teams exchanged leads eight times in the half.

The Lions opened the second half by extending their lead to eight points before Newberry not only cut into the lead, but took a lead of its own at 13:18 on a pair of made free throws by Henderson.

A jumper at 11:52 by senior Brittany Brown gave the Wolves a five-point lead. The Wolves would not score another basket from the field until 3:10 remaining in the game. As Mars Hill scored during that drought for Newberry, the Wolves preserved their lead with help from the free throw line.

It was a Henderson layup at 3:10 that broke the drought for the Wolves. The next possession Newberry took a nine-point lead on a 3-pointer by Kendra Brown. Newberry extended its lead to double digits for the first time in the game on back-to-back free throws by Lewis giving the Wolves a 55-45 lead. Lewis sealed the win with 50 seconds remaining when she was perfect again from the line securing the 11-point victory for the Wolves.

Mars Hill will host SAC rival Brevard College on Saturday. Tip-off is Stanford Arena is set for 2 p.m.