Lady Barons open semester by taking pair at Flagler Classic


MOUNT VERNON -- Defensive prowess dominated the Brewton-Parker College women's basketball team's return to the court during the year-opening Flagler College Classic in St. Augustine, Fla.

The Lady Barons forced 41 turnovers against Wisconsin Lutheran College in a 75-54 victory on Saturday, Jan. 3.

Brewton-Parker completed its two-game sweep in the classic and extended its winning streak to eight with a 70-57 win Monday over Bryan College (Tenn.) that included 25 more turnovers for the opposition.

In forcing 41 Wisconsin Lutheran turnovers Saturday, Brewton-Parker had 20 steals - led by sophomore guard-forward Tamika Drinks of Mount Vernon with five thefts. Drinks also had a team-high five rebounds to go with 13 points.

"We didn't shoot all that great," Brewton-Parker coach Sheila Simmons said of the Lady Barons' 41.5 percent field-goal shooting that included 28.6 percent from 3-point range. "Defensively, we did a good job out of our traps. Our conditioning was pretty decent, so overall I am pleased with our performance."

Toya Rogers, a senior guard-forward from Vidalia, led the Lady Barons in scoring with 15 points and also had two blocked shots. Sophomore guard Ashley Little of Lawrenceville also reached double figures with 11 points, while sophomore guard Trivia Richardson of Dublin was perfect on four shots and one free throw in scoring nine points.

Senior guard Trudie Ridley of Richmond Hill came off the bench to record a team-high five assists.

In Monday's win over Bryan, the Lady Barons made 14 more steals -- led by sophomore guard Dannisha Winfrey's four thefts and Little's three picks -- and rode Drinks' 17 points and Rogers' 11 rebounds to victory after leading 35-31 at halftime.

"Toya was a monster on the boards," Simmons said of Rogers, who also had two blocks and one steal while being limited to five points. "She knew her important role would be to rebound, and her rebounding was key."

Winfrey added 14 points and Little had 11 in following Drinks' 17. Simmons also noted senior guard Melody Walker of Statesboro with eight points and three assists and Richardson's 3-point basket that gave the Lady Barons momentum in the second half.

The Lady Barons (12-2) open Georgia-Alabama-Carolina Conference play Thursday in Montgomery, Ala., against Auburn University Montgomery (7-5) with a 7 p.m. game and continue GACC action Saturday at Emmanuel College (7-2) in Franklin Springs at 6 p.m.

After another road game on Jan. 17, Brewton-Parker's first home game of 2004 is Jan. 22.

-BPC-