BANNER ELK, N.C. – Lees-McRae women's basketball played tough for 40 minutes in their home opener on the McNair & Debi Tornow Court, but Bluefield State picked up the 78-69 win on Wednesday evening.
Leah Barringer posted a career-high 21 points to lead the Bobcats while
Emily Barr collected a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Bluefield State –
78; Lees-McRae – 69
LOCATION: McNair & Debi Tornow Court – Banner Elk, North Carolina
RECORDS: Bluefield State (4-1/0-0); Lees-McRae (1-3/0-0)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Sandra Mason started the Bobcat offense quickly with a jumper at the 9:03 mark of the first quarter and Barringer doubled the lead with a layup on their next possession. Barr continued the run with a fastbreak layup and Layla Tillery made the score 7-0 in favor of Lees-McRae after hitting the frontend of two free throws.
- Bluefield State climbed back into the game and gained the three-point advantage after Alexyss Newman connected a three-pointer with 3:12 left in the first stanza. The Big Blue pushed the margin to six points at 20-14, but Lees-McRae closed the quarter on a 4-0 run after four makes at the free-throw line.
- Barringer knotted the score at 22 apiece with 7:47 left in the first half off a fastbreak layup. Essence Sumner regained the lead for the Bobcats off a fastbreak basket via an assist from Mason. Sumner buried a three with 2:02 remaining in the second quarter at 32-27 in favor of Lees-McRae and the Bobcats went into the halftime up 37-31.
- The Big Blue opened the second half on a 10-0 run to take the 41-37 lead and controlled the third quarter with a four-point advantage at 52-46.
- The Bobcats cut the deficit down to three points with 2:39 remaining in the contest, but Bluefield State registered the 78-69 win on Wednesday.
- Lees-McRae shot 40.0% (20-50) from the field and 26-35 from the charity stripe, but 32 turnovers loomed large for the Bobcats in the loss. Bluefield State had 32 points off the 32 turnovers.
- Sumner joined Barr and Barringer in double figures with 10 points, four rebounds, and one steal. Mason and Nadiya Hairston tallied seven points apiece in tonight's contest. Mason contributed a game-high four assists.
FOR THE BIG BLUE:
- Azariah Binford guided the Big Blue with 19 points on 9-10 from the free-throw line and 4-8 from the field. Shalance Montoya provided 16 points in 19 minutes off the bench. Katrina Davis and Alexyss Newman each collected 12 points apiece in the win.
UP NEXT:
Lees-McRae women's basketball opens Conference Carolinas play on Saturday with a road contest at Mount Olive at 2 p.m.
For more information onLees-McRae Athletics, follow the Bobcats on Twitter (@LMCBobcats), on Facebook (Lees-McRae Athletics), and on Instagram (leesmcraeathletics).
