Catawba takes 81-55 win over Barton

SALISBURY, NC -- Catawba senior Kisha Long (Dallas, NC/Gaston Day) equaled her career high with 26 points to help lead the Lady Indians to an 81-55 win over visiting Barton in the Comfort Suites Classic on Saturday afternoon at Goodman Gym. The Catawba Indians improve to 4-3, while the Bulldogs fall to 4-1.

Catawba rallied from a six-point deficit in the first half and built on a 33-31 halftime lead to cruise to the win. Barton saw the Lady Indians jump out to a quick 13-5 lead in the opening three minutes, but the Bulldogs would chip away at the Catawba lead and tied the contest at 15-all. A three-point play by Shante Neal (Spring Hope, NC) gave the Bulldogs their first lead at 20-17 midway through the opening half.

Consecutive jumpers by Jolanda Mitchell (Raleigh, NC) and Janetta Robinson (Willard, NC) had Barton up 25-19 with 7:29 to go in the half. Catawba retook the lead on a pair of free throws by Anna Dellapenta (Thomasville, NC/E. Davidson HS/Elon) at the 4:33 mark and never trailed again.

An 11-2 run to start the second half gave Catawba its first double-digit lead and a jumper by Elizabeth Merritt (Lexington, NC/E. Davidson HS) pushed the margin to 63-43 with 7:10 remaining. Long’s two free throws with just over two minutes left gave Catawba its largest lead of 29 points at 79-50.

Long hit on 10 of 21 shots, including a trio of three-pointers. Milica Ivanovic (Belgrade, SERBIA/Sports High/Bethel) added 15 points and five assists, while Dana Hicks (York, SC/Gaston Day) posted another double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Merritt tossed in a dozen points and pulled down eight rebounds.

Robinson was the only Bulldog to reach double figures, scoring 10 points. Jamila Johnson (Garner, NC) collected nine points and Neal added eight points and six rebounds. Barton shot just 34.5% and committed 24 turnovers.

Dellapenta produced nine points, seven rebounds and four assists for the Lady Indians. Catawba connected on 44.6% of its shots, including 60.7% in the second half. Catawba held a 43-39 edge on the boards.

In the opening game of the day, Brevard (3-4) pulled away from Lees-McRae (0-4) to post a 71-56 win. Consecutive three-pointers by Lindsay Brendle (High Point, NC) and Anna Schlobohm (Greensboro, NC) put the Tornados up 42-30 with 13:56 left and Brevard pushed the margin to as many 21 points.

Micheala Watkins (Forest City, NC) scored 20 points to lead Brevard. The Tornados helped offset 26 turnovers with 11 three-pointers. Sophie Witte (Hamburg, GERMANY) recorded a double-double for Lees-McRae with 15 points and 11 boards. The Bobcats committed 34 turnovers in the loss.