BANNER ELK, N.C. – Emily Barr gave Lees-McRae women's basketball the lead with the go-ahead basket at 23 seconds as the Bobcats defeated Barton, 73-68, on Wednesday evening in Conference Carolinas play.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Lees-McRae – 73; Barton– 68
LOCATION: McNair & Debi Tornow Court – Banner Elk, North Carolina
RECORDS: Lees-McRae (7-13/5-11), Barton (11-13/7-9)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Nadiya Hairston knocked in the first of 11 three-pointers by the Bobcats on Wednesday and Sandra Mason connected from three-point range 49 seconds later. Sydney Hayes added a three at the end of the first quarter for the 14-13 lead.
- Barton collected a 17-14 advantage, but Lees-McRae went on a 12-0 scoring run over three minutes for the 30-19 lead. The Bobcats led 33-21 at the halftime break after a three-pointer from Layla Tillery.
- Lees-McRae pushed its advantage to 21 points off a fastbreak layup from Mason at the 2:35 mark of the third quarter. Barton ended the quarter on a 13-0 run to cut the deficit to eight points.
- Barton continued to chip away at the Bobcat lead and quickly cut the deficit to five points off a Bulldog jumper at 6:20 mark.
- Barton's Leah Hampton tied the contest at 67-67 and converted on a four-point lead as the Bulldogs led 68-67 with 30 seconds remaining in the contest.
- Barr rebounded a miss and gave the Bobcats the lead at the 69-68. Kirsten Watt sealed the game with a turnover and Mason converted free throws in the final seconds for the 73-68 win over Barton.
- With tonight's win, Lees-McRae snapped a nine-game losing streak to Barton in the series history. The Bobcats last won against Barton on January 2019 with the 79-65 win in Wilson, North Carolina.
- Mason had a season-high 18 points, 11 rebounds, eight steals, and two assists in the win. Hairston followed with 17 points, six assists, and five rebounds. Leah Barringer joined Hairston and Mason in double-digit scoring with 12 points off the bench.
- Barr finished with five points and 10 rebounds in the victory.
- Hampton led the Bulldogs with 19 points and seven boards. Lauren Mingo collected 18 points and nine rebounds. Celeste Bailey rounded out the Bulldogs in double figures with 10 points in 36 minutes.
UP NEXT:
Lees-McRae women's basketball concludes a two-game homestand on Friday at 5 p.m. with a league matchup against Chowan.
For more information on Lees-McRae Athletics, follow the Bobcats on X (@LMCBobcats), on Facebook (Lees-McRae Athletics), and on Instagram (leesmcraeathletics).
