Wolves' fourth quarter comeback downs Lions at home

MARS HILL, N.C. – The Mars Hill women's basketball team (1-14, 0-11 SAC) fell late in the fourth quarter to Newberry (12-6, 6-5 SAC) by a score of 80-67 Saturday afternoon inside Stanford Arena.

The Lions carried a 55-46 lead into the fourth quarter.  After a scoreless 1:42, Regan McCarty hit her first of four fourth quarter three-pointers to start a Newberry 9-0 run that saw the Wolves tie the game with under six minutes remaining.  Following Newberry foul problems, the Lions hit three straight free throws to retake the lead, 58-55, with 5:32 left. 

Just over one minute later, a free throw from Ke'Shaun White provide the Wolves their final lead of the game.  They would conclude the game on a 20-8 run complete their comeback bid and snap their five-game losing streak.

Mars Hill opened the game trailing 16-8 after the first 4:18 of the quarter, but an 8-0 run knotted the game up with 2:19 remaining in the frame. Shayla Smith had four points in the run.  Following a Shelby Britten jump shot, the Lions responded by scoring three straight to take a 19-18 lead into the second quarter.

The teams traded the lead early in the second, but Mars Hill took the 21-20 lead from a short jumper by Smith and would maintain the lead until the 5:33 mark of the stanza.  McCarty's three-pointer tied the game at 31, however, Mars Hill finished the half strong, ending on a 9-0 run.

Smith led the Lions with 10 points in the half and collected seven rebounds.  Britten paced the Wolves' offense with 12 points after 20 minutes.

In the lowest scoring frame of the contest, the teams battled to a 15-15 draw.  Britten and Courtney Lyons each had three points for Newberry while Alexis Pardue and Mariah Johnson scored four apiece for the Lions.

McCarty's six three-pointers led her to a game-high 22 points.  She added four rebounds, three steals and two assists.  Britten ended the contest with 20 points and a game-high seven assists.  Smith led the Lions with 15 points and 11 rebounds for the double-double.  Pardue added 14 points.

The Lions host Converse on Monday night in non-conference play.  Tipoff inside Stanford Arena is set for 6 p.m.