Center Donna Carr provided the power down the stretch as Catawba’s Lady Indians grabbed a 78-66 victory over Mars Hill in a key South Atlantic Conference basketball game at Goodman Gym Saturday afternoon.
Carr, a former Salisbury High star and a transfer from South Carolina, provided a double-double as the Lady Indians notched their third straight conference win, protecting their grip on at least a share of the SAC lead.
It was the third straight win for coach John Duncan’s Indians and their 11th triumph in their past 13 games. They improved to 11-3 overall.The loss left Mars Hill with a 2-1 conference record and a 9-3 mark for the season.
Carr fired in 21 points, including 17 in the last half, to pace Catawba. She pulled down a game- high 14 rebounds — 11 coming off the defensive boards.
Guard LakaiBrice followed with 12 points. She had eight assists and eight steals. Next was Vuokko Timola with 11 points and Satu Puolitaival with 10.
Denise Shelton, one of the top scorers in the SAC, led Mars Hill with 24. Mary Ward had 14 and Mara Hickman collected 12.
Catawba got off to a rugged start, falling behind 9-0 in the first three minutes. The Indians trailed by 14-5 before they got their game working in a winning way.
Catawba got even at 26-all on a 3-pointer by Puolitaival and got the lead for the first time in the opening half at 31-30 on a pair of free throws byBrice.
Erin Buckland fired in a couple of buckets and Timola sank two 3-pointers to give Catawba a 41-35 lead at halftime.
Locklear and Brice put Catawba ahead by 61-60 with 6:45 remaining.
That’s when Carr took charge. She led a surge that gave the Indians a 62-60 advantage. She later delivered a three-point play to give the Indians a 69-64 edge with 2:34 left to play.
Carr added five free throws and pulled down three key rebounds to clinch the 12-point win.
“Carr was the difference,” said Duncan, whose team presented him with his 91st Catawba win in five years.
“We got off to a bad start,”added Duncan, “but we made a good comeback. Out defense did a good job. Mars Hill is a very good team. It was a good win for us. We are pleased with our effort.”
“We were tight at the beginning of the game and fell behind,” explained Carr. “I felt I had to play well. I like it when the team counts on me to do well. I did the things — scoring and rebounding — that I can do the best. We had a good finish and it was a good win.”
“We had a bad start but we played at the end,” added Brice. “The team was tight at the beginning. It was a big game. But we played well when it counted.”
The Indians invade Wingate for another key SACgame Wednesday at 6.
MARS HILL (66) — Myers 2, Shelton 24, Hickman 12, Ray 6, Ward 14, Carland 4, Keith, Atkins, Thomas, Carringer, Roberts 4, Miller.
CATAWBA (78) — Timola 11, Little 2, Carr 21, Pasola 6, Brice 12, Puolitaival 10, Locklear 6, Buckland 8, Stockton, Powell 2, Mitchell, Hunjo.
Mars Hill 35 31 — 66
Catawba 41 37 — 78
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