Charlotte, NC -- The Johnson & Wales Women's Basketball Team won a hard-fought battle against USCAA opponent Barber-Scotia Monday night in the Student Center.  In a game with six ties and ten lead changes, the Wildcats came out on top by a score of 63-60.  

The game started out quickly with both teams scoring in the first thirty seconds.  By the first break in the action at 14:39, JWU held a slim three-point lead.  Moving forward, the Wildcats began to push the tempo and ran an inside-out game to build an double-digit lead of eleven, capped by an offensive rebound and putback by Jaquana Pauling.  Throughout the rest of the half, JWU turnovers and good ball movement from Barber-Scotia allowed the Sabers to melt away the JWU lead and take a 35-34 advantage into the locker room at halftime.

The second half began in a similar fashion with both teams playing aggressively.  By the 14:09 mark, JWU held a five-point lead after a three-point basket from Jaquana Pauling off an assist from Marketa Smalls.  Barber-Scotia bounced back quickly, though, and held a one-point lead of its own with under nine minutes to play.  The lead changed hands several times in the ensuing minutes, and the teams were finally tied with four minutes to play on a Donyelle Stuetley post move assisted by Jaquana Pauling.  After turnovers by both teams, Vanderia Shackleford came away with a steal and knocked down two free throws to put JWU ahead at 58-56.  On JWU's next possession, Donyelle Stuetley converted a lay-up off an inbounds play to give the Wildcats a four-point cushion and then pulled down a big defensive rebound on Barber-Scotia's next possession.  A Marketa Smalls free throw added to the JWU lead with 1:16 left, and a steal and lay-up from Justina Tyler with 32.4 seconds put JWU ahead by seven points at 63-56.  The Sabers were able to convert two baskets in the final seconds but missed a three-point attempt at the buzzer, and the Wildcats escaped with a three-point victory.

JWU won its third game in a row and fifth game out of its last six to improve to 8-12 on the season.  Jaquana Pauling continued her impressive play with another double-double of 16 points and 11 rebounds.  Vanderia Shackleford had 15 points, and Donyelle Stuetley added 12.  The Lady Wildcats travel to USCAA opponent Warren Wilson College on Wednesday to play the first game of the doubleheader at 5:30 PM.