Newberry Tops Carson-Newman In Food Lion SAC Women’s Basketball Tournament

HICKORY, N.C. - Despite trailing for much of the contest, second-seeded Newberry (21-7) used an offensive surge and a 10-point advantage from the free throw line in defeating the third-seed Carson-Newman Lady Eagles, 66-56, in the semifinals of the 2010 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Tournament at Catawba Valley Community College Arena, Saturday night.

Newberry led early 8-4, but Carson-Newman went on a 16-2 run to lead 20-10 with 10:36 remaining. The Lady Eagles would outscore the scarlet and gray 23-12 in the last 16:41 of the half to take a 27-20 lead into the locker room.

After the break, Newberry scored nine of the first 12 points of the half to close the gap to one at 30-29. The Lady Eagles were able to push their lead back to five thanks to six straight free throws, four of which came from sophomore forward Zoriah Williams (Calera, Ala.), to lead 38-33 with 12:06 remaining.

Newberry took a 43-42 lead at 7:17, its first since 16:13 of the first half but a three-pointer from junior guard Mandy Mendenhall (Kingston Springs, Tenn.) tied the game at 48 with 5:01 remaining. The scarlet and gray responded as junior forward LeAnne Watson (Stone Mountain, Ga.) hit back to back shots to take a 52-48 lead.

With the score 54-53, Newberry reeled off seven straight points to go up by eight with 1:06 remaining in the contest. The scarlet and gray would hold on for the 66-56 victory and a berth in the championship game of the tournament.

While both teams shot below 35 percent from the floor for the game, Newberry held a 16 to 12 advantage on the offensive glass and forced the Lady Eagles into 22 turnovers.

Newberry senior forward Anita Bulcher (Russia, Ohio) led all players with 22 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks for her 21st double-double of the season and 11th straight. Junior guard Jessica Bearzatto (Melbourne, AUSTRALIA) had 14 points, eight assists and six rebounds as well for the scarlet and gray. Watson and junior guard Helen McKinney (Owensboro, Ky.) each chipped in 11 points as well.

Carson-Newman's Zoriah Williams drives to the basket against Newberry.

Buford led the Lady Eagles with 12 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks while Mendenhall had 11 of her own. Williams and junior guard Katlin Moore (Fort Mill, S.C.) each had 10 points for C-N as well.

Newberry will face Tusculum in the final of the 2010 Food Lion SAC Tournament at 4:00 p.m., at CVCC Arena. The winner of the contest will receive an automatic bid to the 2010 NCAA Division II Southeast Region Tournament.

Newberry Quotes
Head coach Sean Page: "We came out a little flat, maybe over-wrought from the situation. We just weren't comfortable or in any rhythm. But defensively, we were OK. We kept them to 27 points in the first half. In the locker room, I said I didn't think we could play any worse. So we felt pretty good about ourselves in the second half."
"We also got (Anita) Bulcher going, getting her the ball. We know if we get the ball to Anita Bulcher as much as we can, eventually good things happen."
"We played more zone in that game than we have all year. That may have disrupted their rhythm a little bit."
(On playing Tusculum for the tournament championship): "We know they are going to be a big challenge for us. But we know if we go out and compete, we have a good chance."

Carson-Newman Quotes
Head coach Dean Walsh: "We executed our game plan in the first half, and totally deviated from our game plan and relaxed in the second half. We played soft and we played scared."
"Newberry wanted it more. We had a chance to put them away in the first half and didn't do it. They had a lot riding on this game to get into the NCAA Tournament, and they acted like it."

At Hickory, N.C. (CVCC Arena)
NEWBERRY 66, CARSON-NEWMAN 56
CARSON-NEWMAN (23-6)
Buford, Shari 4-8 4-4 12; Mendenhall, Mandy 5-11 0-0 11; Williams, Zoriah
1-4 8-8 10; Moore, Katlin 3-9 1-2 10; Kyle, Ashley 3-12 1-2 7; Jackson,
Dominique 2-4 0-0 4; Phillips, Tasha 1-1 0-0 2; Miles, Courdne 0-2 0-0 0;
Clear, Candis 0-5 0-0 0; Bates, Cassie 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 19-56 14-16 56.
NEWBERRY (21-7)
Bulcher,Anita 6-13 10-11 22; Bearzatto,Jessica 3-7 8-8 14; Watson,LeAnne
5-16 1-2 11; McKinney,Helen 3-12 5-9 11; Browne,Amy 2-6 0-0 4; Ward,Janine
1-1 0-0 2; Creet,Leeara 1-3 0-0 2; Johnson,Briana 0-2 0-0 0;
Henderson,Keisha 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 21-61 24-30 66.
Carson-Newman................. 27 29 - 56
Newberry...................... 20 46 - 66
3-point goals--Carson-Newman 4-12 (Moore, Katlin 3-7; Mendenhall, Mandy 1-3;
Clear, Candis 0-2), Newberry 0-8 (; Bearzatto,Jessica 0-1; McKinney,Helen
0-5; Browne,Amy 0-1; Henderson,Keisha 0-1). Fouled out--Carson-Newman-None,
Newberry-None. Rebounds--Carson-Newman 39 (Buford, Shari 10), Newberry 43
(Bulcher,Anita 10). Assists--Carson-Newman 9 (Kyle, Ashley 6), Newberry 14
(Bearzatto,Jessica 8). Total fouls--Carson-Newman 22, Newberry 14. Technical
fouls--Carson-Newman-None, Newberry-None. A-390