Mars Hill loses to Newberry despite last minute push

MARS HILL, N.C. – The Mars Hill women's basketball team rallied late in the fourth period, but ultimately fell to Newberry, 52-44, in Stanford Arena Monday evening.

The Wolves stormed out to a 17-2 lead after the first 10 minutes. Mars Hill shot 1-of-14 from the field with the lone basket coming from Cierra Hampton. Hampton scored to make the contest 5-2 with 5:14 left in the period. The Wolves would answer with 12 unanswered points to close out the frame. Newberry's Courtney Lyons had five points off the bench to lead the Wolves.

Mars Hill was able to find their game in the second period, outscoring the Wolves 14-13. Newberry took seven of the first 10 points. The Lions trailed 24-5 with over six minutes left in the half. Hampton and Mariah Johnson hit 3-pointers on consecutive possessions to get the Lions into double-digits. Sandwiched between the Mars Hill baskets, Meg Essex scored the Wolves' 26^th point. With 3:27 remaining in the half, both teams put up four points each with Newberry up 30-16.

Johnson led the Lions with eight points in the half, including two 3-pointers. Jewel Walston collected a team-high five rebounds in the first 20 minutes. Shelby Britten scored seven for the Wolves and led all players in the half. Essex and Regan McCarty each pulled down five rebounds for Newberry.

Newberry opened the second half on an 11-2 run to pull ahead 41-18 with 5:21 left in the third period. Mars Hill closed out the third stanza on a 10-6 run to enter the final frame down by 19 points. Johnson equaled her first half total in the third, scoring eight points. Walston scored the other four points. Essex and Kelsey McDermott each had four points to lead the Wolves.

In a reverse of the first period, the Lions dominated the action, outscoring Newberry 16-5, including two late 3-pointers from Johnson and Alexus Grubbs to pull within eight in the final minute of action. The Lions closed out the contest on an 8-0 run, but the comeback bid came too late as Mars Hill dropped their 25^th game of the season.

Johnson led all players with 22 points, including five 3-pointers. Johnson also had a game-high five assists and finished second on the team with six rebounds. Valeriya Pokrovskaya chipped in nine and collected four rebounds. Walston led the Lions with nine rebounds.

Britten scored 11 to lead all Newberry players followed by Lyons and Essex's 10 points apiece.

Mars Hill falls to 2-25 (1-18 SAC) on the season while Newberry improves to 14-11 (9-9 SAC).

The Lions wrap up their season on Saturday, February 24 against Catawba in Stanford Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m.