Staff report

SALISBURY — Not a lot went right for Catawba’s strong women’s basketball team on Saturday – except the most important thing.

They won.

Catawba shot under 30 percent, while visiting Mars Hill shot almost 50 percent at Goodman Gym. The Indians survived the South Atlantic Conference struggle mostly due to a 29-9 edge in the turnover battle. The Indians also made nine 3-pointers, while the Lions were getting 2s. Catawba also shot free throws well, going 13-for-17.

Janiya Downs, the former South Rowan star, was honored at halftime for achieving 1,000 career points. Downs is a graduate student in her fifth season. It’s been a journey to 1,000  for her — she averaged just 3.0 points during an injury-plagued freshman season — but she started getting healthier as a sophomore, was a double-figure scorer as a junior and senior and will be again this season.

Downs led the nationally ranked Indians (5-1, 2-0) on Saturday with 16 points and eight rebounds. Sara McIntosh and Lyrick Thorne scored 14 each.

Halei Gillis scored 15 to pace Mars Hill (4-5, 1-1).

 

Mars Hill       8    16    13    19   — 56

Catawba        20   12   15   19   — 66

CATAWBA — Downs 16, McIntosh 14, Thorne 14, Baker 7, Porter 5, Spry 5, Dixon-Booker 3, Ingram 2.

 

MEN’S GAME

Most South Atlantic Conference games get exciting at some point.

This one didn’t, but Catawba was fine with that. The favored Indians (4-1, 2-0) were content to take a routine 88-65 victory.

DeAngelo Epps (16), Javeon Jones (15) and Montraivis White (13) led the scoring for the deeper Indians.

Catawaba shot 51.5 percent, knocked down eight 3-pointers, shot 12-for-14 on free throws, and had a 20-13 edge in the turnover battle.

Mars Hill (1-6, 0-1) didn’t make a field goal the first eight minutes, and Catawba was able to build a 15-2 lead.

Catawba took a 16-point lead to the break, and the Lions couldn’t make a run.

Catawba is home against Anderson on Wednesday.

 

Mars Hill   28     37    — 65

Catawba    44       44   — 88

CATAWBA — Epps 16, Jones 15, White 13, Gerald 9, Nelson 9, Banks 7, Thomas 6, Bivins 4, Robinson 3, Mitchell 2, Broadway 2, Wallace 2.