Lions felled by Newberry in 2021 home opener

MARS HILL, N.C. – The Mars Hill women's basketball team (1-4, 1-4 SAC) fell to Newberry (3-5, 3-5 SAC) in their 2021 home opener Saturday afternoon by a score of 65-50.

The­­ Wolves opened the first quarter on a 7-2 run before the Lions answered back with an 8-3 stint that knotted the game at 10 with 4:16 played.  Gabby Gianikos' three-pointer with 2:08 to play put Mars Hill up 15-13, however, Newberry reeled off four straight points to close out the stanza leading 17-15.

The Wolves carried their momentum over to the start of the second quarter, opening with a 7-0 run to go up by nine points with 7:38 remaining in the half.  Gianikos, with 4:01 to play, cut the deficit to five, but Newberry responded to build their first double-digit lead of the half with just under two minutes to play.  Kyla Daniels made it a nine-point game at the buzzer, draining a three-pointer to send the Lions into the half down 37-29.

Gianikos led all players with 13 points in the half while Kelsey Brett scored eight to pace the Wolves balanced attack.  Courtney Virgo, Payton Cronen, and Mylaysia Gates each added six for Newberry.  Both Virgo and De'Ja Marshall led their respective teams with seven rebounds apiece.

A 10-2 run to begin the third quarter saw the Wolves lead by as many as 17 points.  The Lions cut the deficit down to 10 before the end of the frame as Alexis Pardue drained a jump shot with 31 seconds to play. A stingy fourth quarter saw the teams combine for 19 points.  Virgo led the Wolves with four while Hannah Chandler scored three for the Lions.

Gianikos ended the contest with 20 points, her second straight 20-point game of the season followed by Daniels' 12 on the afternoon.  Brett led the Wolves with 14 while Virgo collected the double-double, netting 13 points and 10 rebounds.

The Lions return to action on Wednesday, January 13 when they take to the road to square off against Tusculum.  Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m.