WINNSBORO – The Richard Winn Lady Eagles hosted Newberry Academy on Tuesday in a tight contest that went down to the wire. Richard Winn held the lead the entire game, until the fourth quarter when Newberry charged back for the win.
Gracie Atkerson (5) gets a solid look under the basket. | Martha Ladd
Richard Winn played good shutdown defense in the early going and contained the Newberry offense to an anemic six-point quarter. Kimmy Albert and Gracie Atkerson sunk early first- quarter shots from beyond the arc, and that, coupled a with a strong first quarter from Lydia Wilder, gave RWA a 13-6 lead after one.
Newberry picked up their offensive pace slightly in the second quarter, and before halftime they had edged themselves back within five points of the lead. They cut into the lead again after the third quarter. The Richard Winn’s lead shrank from five to just three points going into the final period.
A struggle-ridden fourth quarter cost Richard Winn. They only put up just five points in the final eight minutes. With 12.4 seconds remaining in the game, Newberry hit two free throws to give them their first lead, the only one that mattered. The Eagles couldn’t recover in the remaining time and Newberry edged them by one.
RWA finishes off the regular season Friday at King Academy.
NA– 6-9-11-9 – 35
RWA – 13-7-9-5 – 34
Richard Winn: Taylor Spires – 10, Gracie Atkerson – 7, Lydia Wilder – 5, Meredith Pope – 4, Kim Albert – 3, Calee Thigpen – 2, Cassie McKeown – 2, Hannah Gibbons – 1.
Newberry: Michelle Brown – 13, Kathryn Wilbanks – 8, Amber Suber – 6, Daja Taylor – 6, Summer Harbert – 2.