By Terry Gaston
BPC Public Relations
MOUNT
VERNON -- The Brewton-Parker College Lady Barons basketball team rebounded from
a tough conference-opening loss to score a 67-57 victory Saturday night over
Emmanuel College in Franklin Springs.The Lady Barons (13-3 overall) thus evened their Georgia-Alabama-Carolina Conference record at 1-1 with the win, which followed a 76-57 loss Jan. 8 at NAIA Division I No. 22 ranked Auburn University Montgomery (Ala.).
In gaining the win over Emmanuel, Brewton-Parker erased a 37-33 halftime deficit largely by shutting down Lady Lions leading scorer Joscelyn Cook, a senior guard who had 19 first-half points.
"We were able to hold her to two points in the second half and we got three players score in double figures," said Lady Barons coach Sheila Simmons, whose team also forced 43 turnovers that included 17 steals in shutting down Emmanuel, which entered its GACC opener at 8-2 overall.
"Even though we were down at the half, we still felt good where we were."
Sophomore guard Dannisha Winfrey of Paterson, N.J., who led the Lady Barons in scoring against Auburn Montgomery, scored 13 Saturday night to share team-leading honors with sophomore guard-forward and former Montgomery County High standout Tamika Drinks. Sophomore guard Ashley Little of Lawrenceville followed with 11 points.
Sophomore guard Trivia Richardson of Dublin led Brewton-Parker in steals with five, while Drinks, Little and senior guard Melody Walker of Statesboro had three thefts apiece.
Senior guard-forward Toya Rogers of Vidalia led the Lady Barons' improved rebounding effort with nine boards and had a team-high six assists along with nine points.
That game followed a second-half collapse against Auburn Montgomery after Brewton-Parker had led 35-33 at halftime.
AUM (9-5, 2-0 after another win Saturday) had five scorers in double figures and shot 48.1 percent, while the Lady Barons were just 32.1 percent accurate from the floor -- including just 21.7 percent in the second half.
"We felt good where we were and thought we would carry our momentum over into the second half," Simmons said. "But we came out flat offensively and defensively we didn't play our game. We rebounded poorly, 23 to their 45, and you can't win games when you don't rebound."
Simmons commended Winfrey on her team-leading 16-point effort that included a perfect 6-for-6 at the free-throw line. She also had three steals and two assists, sharing team-high steal honors with Richardson, while Drinks added 12 points with a team-high eight rebounds.
Brewton-Parker makes its final step out of conference play Thursday night when they entertain Morris College (S.C.) at 6 p.m. at the Student Activities Center in the Lady Barons' first home game since Dec. 13.
The Lady Barons then return to GACC action Saturday with a 6 p.m. road game at Georgia Southwestern State University in Americus.
Brewton-Parker's first home GACC contest is Thursday, Jan. 22, against No. 6 ranked North Georgia College and State University.
-BPC-