Game recaps and notes from around the South Atlantic Conference:

CARSON-NEWMAN - The Lady Eagles split a pair of games last week to go 13-8 on the season ... The Carson-Newman Lady Eagles held North Greenville scoreless the final seven minutes of the first half and that was enough to propel them to an 83-59 win over the visiting Crusaders Monday night at Holt Fieldhouse. Carson-Newman’s defense was impressive all night as the Lady Eagles forced 30 turnovers, 14 of which came on steals. C-N out-rebounded North Greenville 34-30, led by five boards from three different players. The Lady Eagles out-scored NGU 40-26 in the paint, 22-7 on fast breaks and scored 32 points on turnovers compared to only 12 by the Crusaders ... Giovanni Booker had a well-rounded game, leading C-N in scoring with 18 points to go along with three rebounds, five assists and four steals. Gabby Smith had 16 points and four assists and Ashley Tipton had 14 points for C-N ... North Greenville had the upper hand early as they built a 14-7 lead six minutes into the first half and 27-20 six minutes later. But the Lady Eagles stepped up the defensive pressure and converted on the offensive end, climbing back into the game and racing to a 40-29 lead at the half capped off by two free throws by Eboni Johnson with 12 seconds remaining ... The Lady Eagles did not relent on the defensive pressure to begin the second half and pushed the lead to 20 points 53-33 when Booker scored on a jumper four and a half minutes in. The Crusaders nailed a three-pointer to make it 71-58 but that was as close as the Crusaders would get as Renita Clark capped the scoring with a three-pointer 63 seconds before the conclusion of the contest ... After turning in one of the best performances of the season against North Greenville, the Lady Eagles had one of their worst as they lost at Newberry, 75-45. On the game, the Lady Indians out-rebounded the NCAA South Atlantic Region No. 9 team 58-37 and held them to 21.7 percent shooting from the field ... Although both teams started off slow offensively, the Lady Indians pushed the tempo on defense and held their competitors to just two points in the game’s first 9:13. Carson-Newman’s first basket came at the 15:42 mark ... With 7:02 to go in the half, the Lady Indians held a 17-6 advantage. Newberry built a 17-point lead, 27-10, with under three minutes left in the first, but the Lady Eagles used a 7-4 run to end the half, making the score 31-17 at the break ... The Lady Indians held Carson-Newman to just four made field goals in the opening period, good for 16.7 percent shooting. Newberry’s rebound advantage was already at 10 at the half ... Carson-Newman was once again held scoreless for nearly five minutes to start the second half. The Lady Indians’ continued pressure and sound rebounding skills were constants throughout the final half. Newberry tacked on the points en route to a game-high 34-point lead, 66-32, with 5:25 to go ... The Lady Indian bench also came up big, as they put together a combined 21 points, most of which came in the second half ... Cassie Burks led the way for Carson-Newman with 13 points, while Eboni Johnson added 10. Tashea Ledbetter led the Eagles on the glass with eight rebounds.

CATAWBA - The Lady Indians battled back from a 13-point deficit with 16 minutes remaining, but dropped its seventh straight after a 75-72 loss at Lenoir-Rhyne in their only action of the week ... Down 50-37, Catawba went on a 18-5 run to tie the score at 55-55 on two free throws by Selia Monroe ... Hannah Davis gave the Lady Indians just its second lead of the game on at 67-65 with 3:05 left, but LR made six-of-eight at the line over the next two minutes to go up 71-67 ... Monroe twice cut the deficit to two points with free throw, the last time after converting three with 12 seconds left ... LR made a free throw, but Monroe’s last-second three-point try was blocked ... Tamekia Foster led Catawba with 13 points, while Davis, Brittany Higgins and Erika Tackett each tossed in a dozen points ... The Lady Indians had just 14 turnovers to 19 for LR, but were out-rebounded 39-32 ... Catawba also hit 42 percent from the field and canned 24-of-28 (86 percent) from the line ... The Lady Indians did not attempt a three-pointer until Monroe’s shot at the buzzer ... Davis averages 14.1 points per game to lead Catawba, while Foster adds 10.9 points and 7.5 rebounds.

LENOIR-RHYNE - The Lenoir-Rhyne College women’s basketball team (9-12, 2-6) won its lone game of the week on Saturday night, a 75-72 win over South Atlantic Conference-rival Catawba at Shuford Gymnasium … Sophomore guard Leah Barrier (Morganton, N.C.) blocked a three-point attempt at the top of the key by the Lady Indians’ Selia Monroe as the Bears snapped a three-game losing streak and moved out of seventh-place tie with Catawba, who lost its seven straight contest … The Bears led 39-28 at halftime and took a 50-37 early in the second half but the Lady Indians reeled off 10 straight points and eventually tied at 55 on a pair of free throws by Monroe with eleven and a half minutes remaining in the game … Catawba would take its only lead of the game at 67-65 on a jump shot by Hannah Davis but Lenoir-Rhyne would counter with six straight points and would hold on for the win … Barrier finished with 12 points and was one of four Bears to score in double figure … Senior forward Shannon Jones (Warrenton, N.C.) led the squad with 16 points and seven rebounds while junior guard Ashley Gordon (Newport News, Va.) and freshman forward Ashlei Helton (Morganton, N.C.) each added 11 points apiece for the Bears, who also finished the game shooting 83 percent (24-of-29) from the free throw line … Jones has now scored in double digits in 14 straight games while Helton has scored 10 or more points in six of her last seven games … Lenoir-Rhyne travels to Jefferson City, Tenn., to take on Carson-Newman College Wednesday at 6 p.m., before hosting Mars Hill Saturday at 6 p.m.

MARS HILL - MHC lost their only game last week to Presbyterian College, 77-73 … The Lions fell to 13-8 overall and 3-5 in the SAC … Rebecca Wessinger (Laurens, SC) recorded her career high 32 points as Presbyterian College defeated host Mars Hill College in Stanford Arena, 77-73 Saturday afternoon in South Atlantic Conference basketball action … Cameron Cook (Greensboro, NC) hit a layup with 14:29 left in the first half to give PC a 12-11 lead they would maintain the rest of the contest … PC extended their advantage to as many as 14 points twice in the first period … The first time was with 1:20 on the clock after Sharie Hopkins (Chesapeake, VA) hit a shot in the lane to make the score 41-27 and the second was when Hopkins made a layup to send the teams into the locker room at the intermission with PC leading, 43-29. PC hit 55.2 percent (16-29) from the floor in the first frame. MHC came out of the locker room in the second half and slowly chipped away the Blue Hose lead … They out scored PC 26-to-14 in the first 12 minutes of the second stanza to tie the contest at 57-all with 8:18 left in regulation after Katie Davis (Harriman, TN) hit a 3-pointer … PC then reeled off seven unanswered points to take a 64-57 advantage with 5:29 left in the game after Wessinger hit a pair of free throws … The Lions cut the lead to two points (75-73) with six ticks left on the clock after Ariel Okunowo (Decatur, GA) hit a layup but that was as close as MHC could get … PC won the rebound battle, 40-to-34. The Blue Hose cooled off in the second half hitting only 26.9 percent (7-26) of their shots … Following Wessinger was Hopkins with 17 points and seven rebounds … Lindsey Jones (Crossville, TN) who was honored before the game for entering MHC’s 1,000-point club, led the Lions with 23 points … Kristi Ferris (Knoxville, TN) followed with 20 points and six boards … Allison Schafer (Advance, NC) rounded out the double-digit scorers for MHC with 10 points, eight coming in the second half … MHC will play at Tusculum College on February 8, at 6 p.m. and then play at Lenoir-Rhyne College on Saturday night, also at 6 p.m.

NEWBERRY - Newberry outscored its opponents by an average of 29.5 points in its first 2-0 week since December, winning over Converse College and Carson-Newman College ... All 11 Lady Indians that saw action Wednesday night contributed in the points department as Newberry ran past Converse, 88-59 ... Five Lady Indians scored in double figures as a seven-point halftime edge expanded to as many as 30 in the final margin. Forward Tonique Frasier led Newberry’s cause with 14 points, followed closely by Monica Alexander with 13. Anita Bulcher and Ashlee Wright scored 11 each, and Tonya Deese contributed 10 points. Deese’s 12 boards made her third double-double of the season and eighth in her career ... On Saturday, Newberry avenged an early season loss in a rout of Carson-Newman College, 75-45. On the game, the Lady Indians outrebounded the NCAA South Atlantic Region No. 9 team 58-37 and held them to a dismal 21.7 percent shooting from the field ... Newberry improves to 13-8 overall and 4-4 in the South Atlantic Conference, while Carson-Newman falls to 13-8 overall and 5-3 in the SAC ... Although both teams started off slow offensively, the Lady Indians pushed the tempo on defense and held their competitors to just two points in the game’s first 9:13. Carson-Newman’s first basket came at the 15:42 mark ... Newberry built a 17-point lead, 27-10, with under three minutes left in the first, but the Lady Eagles used a 7-4 run to end the half, making the score 31-17 at the break. The Lady Indians held Carson-Newman to just four made field goals in the opening period, good for 16.7 percent shooting. Newberry’s rebound advantage was already at 10 at the half ... Carson-Newman’s glimmer of hope was all but snuffed out as Newberry once again held the Eagles scoreless for nearly five minutes to start the second. The Lady Indians’ continued pressure and sound rebounding skills were constants throughout the final half, leading Newberry to only their third victory over the Lady Eagles in program history ... Newberry tacked on the points en route to a game-high 34-point lead, 66-32, with 5:25 to go. The Lady Indian bench also came up big, as they put together a combined 21 points, most of which came in the second half ... Sophomores Tonique Frasier and Monica Alexander paced Newberry with 17 points a piece. Frasier also grabbed a game-high 16 rebounds, her fifth double-double of the year, and scored 13 of her points in the second half. Freshman Anita Bulcher, who got her first start of the season, added eight points and seven boards ... The Lady Indians’ game at Catawba is scheduled for 6 p.m. on February 8.

PRESBYTERIAN - Presbyterian College improved to 18-3 overall and 7-1 in the South Atlantic Conference to remain in a first place tie atop the league standings with Saturday’s 77-73 road victory over Mars Hill College. The Lady Blue Hose sweep the season series with the Lions for the second straight year ... PC’s 18 wins is the most since the 2001-02 season, when the Lady Blue Hose posted a 21-9 record ... Senior forward Rebecca Wessinger scored a career-high 32 points to lead the Lady Blue Hose to a 77-73 victory over Mars Hill College on the road Saturday. Wessinger hit 11-of-19 field goal attempts to go along with four rebounds on the night and in the process moved into 8th place in the program’s career scoring chart with 1,284 points. Reigning SAC Player of the Week, freshman center Sharie Hopkins added 17 points, seven boards, and two assists on the night. PC led 43-29 at halftime after shooting 55.2 percent from the floor in the first half. Mars Hill mounted a comeback in the second half behind13 second half points from Kristi Ferris. Ferris ended the game with 20 points while fellow senior Lindsay Jones added 23 points. PC iced the game on the line by hitting 26-of-32 free attempts on the day including seven-of-nine free throws in the final minute ... Defensively, PC is allowing only 63.0 ppg and hold a +10.3 rebound advantage this season. In league play, PC is allowing 65.9 ppg and holding a +10.2 rebound advantage. When PC holds its opponents to under 67 points, they are 14-1 this season. PC on offense has six players averaging atleast 7.6 ppg and eight players are averaging at least 15.8 minutes per game ... Sophomore guard Amy Jones has come into her own this season. The native of Warthen, Ga., is averaging 9.9 ppg, 4.2 apg, 4.8 rpg, 1.5 spg, 0.8 bpg, while shooting 36.7 percent from the field, 34.4 percent from three-point range, and 76.2 percent from the free throw line. She ranks in nine different statistical categories in the latest South Atlantic Conference statistics ... Freshman center Sharie Hopkins is becoming an impact player for the Lady Blue Hose this season. Hopkins is averaging 11.7 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 0.95 bpg, 0.9 spg, while shooting 62.9 percent from the floor. She has improved her statistical averages in league play by averaging 15.5 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 0.9 spg, 0.9 bpg, and shooting 61.1 percent form the floor ... Wessinger leads the team in scoring (16.0 ppg), and is sixth in rebounds (4.3 rpg), while shooting 47.8 percent from the field, 40 percent from beyond the arc, and 75.9 percent from the line. She currently has 1,284 career points which ranks 8th in program history. She needs nine points to move into seventh place and pass former All-SAC standout Tracy Woody (1998-01) who tallied 1,292 career points ... Senior center Cameron Cook continues her move up the program’s career rebounding chart. Cook, a native of Greensboro, N.C., currently ranks 10th in program history with 559 career rebounds. She needs nine more rebounds to move into 8th place and pass Nancy Renwick (1983-87) and Martha Williams (1982-86) who each tallied 567 career boards ... PC hosts Wingate University on Wednesday, February 8 in a showdown for first place in the SAC regular season standings. Tip-off with the Bulldogs is set for 6:00 pm. The Lady Blue Hose return to the road on Saturday, February 11 with a trip to Jefferson City, Tenn. to face Carson-Newman College at 6;00 pm.

TUSCULUM - The Tusculum women’s basketball came up on the short end of its only meeting of the week, falling 68-62 at Wingate… The Pioneers out-rebounded the Bulldogs 38-37, marking just the sixth time this season that TC has won the battle of the boards… Junior guard Brooke Underwood led Tusculum with a career-high 15 points, as well as 10 assists … For the third straight game, freshman Ashli Oliver scored 15 points, all of which came on three-point shots… Freshman Stephany Neptune tied her season-high with 15 rebounds…Senior Amber Redding tallied 14 points and six boards… The Pioneers were held under 70 points for the fourth time in five contests. They are 10-2 when scoring at least 70 points and 2-5 when failing to reach the 70-point plateau… In last week’s statistical report released by the NCAA, Underwood took over the Division II assists lead, with an average of 9.2 per game. She had been ranked second in the nation since the first statistics were released on Jan. 4… As a team, the Pioneers continue to rank second in the country with an average of 9.8 three-point field goals per game. Their 39.8 percent accuracy from beyond the arc weighed in at No. 5 in Division II… Oliver is third in the country with 3.7 treys per contest and 23rd with a 41.0 three-point percentage… Junior Chassity Martin appeared at No. 14 with 2.8 threes per outing and 31st with a 40.5 percent three-point accuracy.

WINGATE - Wingate junior guard Tanetra Barrett led all scorers with 23 points as the Bulldogs defeated Tusculum 68-62 Saturday afternoon in South Atlantic Conference action in Cuddy Arena. Barrett hit seven-of-12 field goals on the evening. She also recorded six rebounds and three assists ... With the victory, Wingate (16-5 overall, 7-1 SAC) remains in a first-place tie in the SAC standings with Presbyterian. The Bulldogs and the Blue Hose will meet Wednesday night at Presbyterian ... The Bulldogs used a 12-0 run in the first half to move out to a 27-16 lead following a lay-up by junior forward Emily Paffrath at the 3:49 mark. Wingate led 34-29 at intermission ... After Tusculum had rallied to tie the game, the Bulldogs jumped out to a 45-38 advantage using a 9-2 run, capped off by freshman point guard Anna Atkinson’s three-pointer with 14:50 remaining. Tusculum cut the lead to three in the late stages, but the Pioneers would get no closer ... The 2004-05 SAC Co-Player of the Year, Barrett is 19th in the NCAA Division II in points per game (19.3) and 35th in individual field goal percentage (54.3 percent). Barrett leads the SAC in scoring. She is third in the league in individual field goal percentage ... The Wingate University women’s basketball team was ranked second in last week’s NCAA Division II South Atlantic Regional poll. The Bulldogs were ranked number one the previous week ... Paffrath is 15th in blocked shots per game (2.6). Paffrath leads the league in blocked shots. Freshman point guard Anna Atkinson (Marion, N.C.) is 38th in assists per game (5.0) ... As a team, the Wingate women are third on the NCAA Division II charts in team field goal percentage (48.0 percent), tenth in scoring offense (79.5 points per game), 27th in team free throw percentage (73.9 percent) and 31st in team three-point field goal percentage (35.7 percent) ... Cuddy Arena has been very kind to the Bulldogs over the years; the 2005-06 season (to date) has been no exception. Wingate is 7-0 overall on its home court this season. In addition, the Bulldogs are 11-1 overall when their opponents score under 69 points. Wingate is 14-2 overall when leading at halftime.