Eagles Battle Back to Defeat Lady Knights
WILMORE, Ky. – Trenia Barbee and Laura Carroll combined for 50 points as the Asbury women won 85-78 nonconference win over Kentucky Christian on Tuesday evening. The Eagles have won four of their last five and finish nonconference play 11-4 and are 15-7 overall.
The Eagles trailed by as much as nine in the second half after trailing nearly the entire first half. Asbury managed to pull ahead, 38-37, at halftime. With over 12 minutes remaining the Lady Knights led 62-53 but that’s when Barbee led the charge. The senior scored 10 points as the Eagles went on a 15-3 run to take a three point lead at 68-65 with just under nine minutes left.
The Lady Knights regained the lead twice before two Barbee free throws with 5:42 left secured the lead for good at 75-73. Barbee finished with 28 points and 12 rebounds, her fourth double-double of the season and first since November 28. Barbee became the 10th 1,000 point scorer in school history with the effort and the fastest, securing the feat in only 52 games. She is the only two-year player to reach 1,000 and gives the Eagles three 1,000-point scorers on the team this year (Carroll, Griffith).
The Eagles shot only 43-percent as Barbee labored through an 11-of-28 performance. Asbury made just three three-pointers, taking 14. Kentucky Christian fared better, shooting 49-percent overall and making 5-of-13 from three point range. The biggest difference on the night came on turnover as the Lady Knights gave it up 13 times while the Eagles turned it over a season-low three times.
Laura Carroll also struggled from the floor, shooting 8-of-21 but was a perfect 6-of-6 from the free throw line. Carroll finished with 22 points and also increased her season free throw percentage to an NAIA II leading 96.1-percent (73-of-76). She just missed her first career double-double a career-high nine boards. Lakin Griffith had an efficient night from the floor, making 7-of-11 and scoring 16 points.
Asbury jumps back into KIAC action on Thursday as they host Alice Lloyd at 6pm. Alice Lloyd currently leads the conference with a 7-2 mark. This will be the first of two meetings between the clubs this season. At 4-3 in the KIAC the Eagles sit in fourth place, but only one loss seperates them at Alice Lloyd. Point Park is second at 10-3 and Brescia is third at 5-3.
