Eagles Set School Mark with 19th Win
BEREA, Ky. – Asbury led by as much as 20 in the second half but had to hold on to defeat Berea College 58-48 on Tuesday night in the Seabury Center. Asbury’s 19th win of the season is a program best after winning 18 a year ago. The Eagles have won six in a row and eight of nine.
After a week off the rust showed for the Eagles as they turned the ball over 27 times. The Eagles did shoot 41-percent from the floor while holding Berea to just 32-percent. Trenia Barbee led all scorers with 21 points in her first game back. Barbee also grabbed eight rebounds. Lakin Griffith recorded her third double-double of the season with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
The Eagles (19-7, 8-3 KIAC) turned a 12-point halftime lead into a 20-point margin six minutes into the second half but had to hold off a late Berea run to escape. The Mountaineers (9-15, 5-6 KIAC) closed the gap to eight at 48-40 with 7:43 left but Dorian Downs answered with one of her four three-pointers to push the margin back to 11. Downs connected on 4-of-8 from downtown and finished with 14 points. Berea was able to close to within seven in the final 20 seconds.
Asbury was able to excel on the glass, pulling down 43 rebounds to just 28 by Berea. The Eagles grabbed 15 offensive rebounds as Kylee Gorby, Trenia Barbee and Lakin Griffith all grabbed three offensive boards. The Eagles were also able to force 20 turnovers by Berea.
Berea defeated the Eagles in Wilmore back on January 15, 71-68. Asbury’s win pulls them to within one game of KIAC leader Point Park who is 10-3 in league play. The Eagles and Pioneers split two meetings this year. Asbury still has four conference games remaining while the Pioneers have only two. If both teams win out they will share the KIAC title and the number one seed will be determined by tie-breakers.
The Eagles will be in action again on Thursday as they travel to Alice Lloyd. The Eagles defeated Alice Lloyd 82-72 on January 24 in the Luce.
