SALISBURY, N.C. --- Catawba College shot nearly 60 percent from the field and placed five players in double figures in an 80-51 victory over Tusculum College in South Atlantic Conference women's basketball action at Goodman Gym Saturday afternoon.
Bri Johnson had 17 points and seven rebounds to lead the Indians (12-5, 9-3 SAC), who connected on 30-for-51 (58.8 percent) from the field and went 9-for-17 from three-point range in the win. The Indians led 47-19 at halftime and by as many as 34 points in the second half to finish off the season series sweep of the Pioneers.
Benedicta Makakala led the Pioneers (3-13, 2-10 SAC) with a career-high 15 points, while Sydney Wilson added a season-best 14 points. However, the Pioneers shot 33.9 percent (19-for-56) from the field in the game and were outrebounded by the Indians by a 36-29 margin.
Marshauna Butler had 12 points, seven rebounds and five assists in just 17 minutes for the Indians, while Terri Rogers added 12 points and six rebounds on 6-for-8 shooting from the field and Brianna Hodges added 12 points and three steals off the Catawba bench. Elizabeth Webb was the fifth player in double figures for the Indians with 10 points, including 3-for-5 from three-point range.
Makakala scored the first five points of the game for the Pioneers on a three-pointer and a layup, giving Tusculum leads of 3-2 and 5-4. However, a three-pointer from Bri Johnson kicked off a 12-2 run by the Indians which gave them a 19-9 lead with 4:36 left in the first quarter. Catawba shot 9-for-15 from the field in the opening quarter, including 4-for-7 on three-pointers, and led 24-13 at the end of the first quarter.
Tusculum trailed 32-19 after a basket by Wilson with 7:04 left in the second quarter, but the Pioneers would not score again in the period as the Indians went on a 15-0 run to end the quarter and take a 47-19 lead into halftime.
Butler and Bri Johnson led the Indians with 12 points apiece in the first half, while Rogers went 5-for-5 from the field and scored 10 points as Catawba shot 19-for-29 from the field (65.5 percent) in the half. Makakala was the top scorer for the Pioneers in the first half with seven points, while Wilson and Jasmine Williams had four points apiece for Tusculum, which shot 24.1 percent (7-for-29) from the floor as a team in the opening half.
Catawba's lead grew to as many as 34 points at 63-29 near the end of the third quarter, and Tusculum outscored the Indians 20-17 in the fourth quarter to put a dent into the final margin. Tusculum shot 7-for-13 from the field in the fourth quarter, including a pair of three-pointers from Tara Shields.
Williams set season highs with six points and nine rebounds in 18 minutes off the bench for the Pioneers, while Kahliya Murry had four points and two blocked shots in 11 minutes of playing time. Kasey Johnson, who entered the game having scored in double figures in seven straight games, was held to 1-for-8 from the field and finished with four points and four rebounds in 31 minutes.
The turnover battle was nearly even, with Catawba committing 20 turnovers and Tusculum 19, and each team scoring 12 points off turnovers. The Indians had a 28-18 edge in points in the paint, and its bench outscored the Pioneer bench by a 24-16 margin.
Tusculum returns home to face Brevard on Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Pioneer Arena. The Tornados defeated the Pioneers 74-67 on their home court on Nov. 22 in the first meeting of the season between the teams.
