Drinks scores 22, McNeil 20 in Lady Barons' road win

Sophomore forward Tamika Drinks of Mount Vernon scored a game-high 22 points and junior forward Crystal McNeil added 20 in leading the Brewton-Parker College women's basketball team to a 77-51 victory Tuesday night over Morris College in Sumter, S.C.

Drinks, a former Montgomery County Lady Eagle standout, and McNeil, a transfer from her hometown Pensacola (Fla.) Community College, also shared team-leading rebound honors with eight boards apiece in the Lady Barons' first road game.

"Crystal McNeil and Tamika Drinks really stepped up for us," said Brewton-Parker coach Sheila Simmons, whose team (2-1) led 43-22 at halftime after holding Morris to just 25 percent shooting in the first half.

The Lady Barons hit just 38.6 percent of their shot attempts, and just 18.8 percent from 3-point range, but offset that figure by holding Morris to 33.9 percent shooting and forcing 31 Lady Hornet turnovers - including five steals by Drinks.

"We forced a lot of turnovers and did better at the free-throw line," Simmons said of the Lady Barons' 20-for-27 (74.1 percent) free-shot effort. "We still didn't shoot like I want us to."

Sophomore guard Dannisha Winfrey had a game-best three assists.

The Lady Barons (2-1) return to action Tuesday, Nov. 18, with a non-conference game against Allen University (S.C.) at Brewton-Parker's Student Activities Center, with tip-off set for 6 p.m.

-BPC-