Staff report

SALISBURY — Catawba’s Shemya Stanback finally got a shot to fall.

But it was one of those days. Officials ruled it came a fraction of a second too late, and the Indians lost to Carson-Newman, 69-68, in overtime, at Goodman Gym, in South Atlantic Conference women’s basketball.

Catawba was the quicker team on Saturday afternoon and had every chance to win the game in regulation and again in overtime, but just didn’t make many shots. Eleven missed free throws and 29.7-percent shooting from the field didn’t get it done, and the Indians (10-1, 5-1) lost for the first time this season.

Carson-Newman (8-4, 4-2) didn’t light it up (38.3 percent from the floor), but the Eagles did make 18 of 23 free throws. Carson-Newman won despite committing 26 turnovers and allowing Catawba to get 20 offensive rebounds.

Kayla Marosites scored 18 for the Eagles and was clutch late in the contest.

Taisha DeShazo scored 16 for the Indians, while Madi Hallman had 13.

Catawba shot a brutal 9-for-39 in the first half, but was only down one at halftime, 30-29, and had to feel like it was in good shape.

Catawba caught up early in the third quarter and surged ahead, 45-39, when Marissa Bruce, one of 15 Indians who saw action, flipped in a 3-pointer.

When Lyrik Thorne got the ball inside to Talia Barnes for an easy two, the Indians took a 49-44 lead to the fourth quarter.

A layup by Braelyn Wykle got the Eagles even at 55-all with 2:33 remaining in regulation.

A stick-back by Barnes after a missed 3-pointer by DeShazo gave the Indians a 61-60 lead with 1:05 remaining. Kelci Marosites split two free throws with 23 seconds left for a 61-all tie.

Thorne took the ball hard to the goal with a drive late in regulation, but her shot rolled across the rim. The rebound was contested, and Catawba was awarded the ball out of bounds with one second left. Stanback got a pretty good look at a 3-pointer from the left wing, but the shot didn’t drop, and the game went to overtime.

A 3-pointer by Hallman and two Lauren Ford free throws gave Catawba a five-point lead early in the overtime session, but a Kayla Marosites 3-pointer and an Addison Byrd layup made it 66-all with 2:12 remaining.

Thorne made two free throws for Catawba’s last lead — and last points — with 1:49 remaining in OT.

Byrd got another layup for 68-all with 49 seconds left in the overtime.

Catawba’s next possession was disastrous. With the shot clock about to expire, Thorne had to try a 3-pointer, and Kayla Marosites blocked it.

Kayla Marosites was fouled on a drive with 11 seconds left. She made one of two for a 69-68 lead.

Stanback missed a jumper in the lane with about three seconds left. The ball caromed off to the left side. Stanback chased it down and got a shot up. It swished, but was ruled to have been released too late.

It was a tough shooting day for Stanback (0-for-9), DeShazo (5-for-18) and most of their teammates. Barnes and Hallman had seven rebounds each. Hallman had five assists. DeShazo had four steals. Ford had four blocks.

Catawba plays at Coker on Wednesday.

CARSON-NEWMAN (69) — Ka. Marosites 18, Byrd 11, Smith 10, Wykle 9, Ke. Marosites 7, Griffin 7, Hines 3, Bunch 2, Bean 2, Wilson, Goforth.

CATAWBA (68) — DeShazo 16, Hallman 13, Barnes 8, Thorne 7, Garris 6, Ford 5, Stanback 4, Bruce 3, Phillips 3, McIntosh 2, Wampler 1, Downs, Tucker, Gardner, Davie.

Carson-Newman     21    9    14   17  8 — 69

Catawba                   16   13   20  12    7 — 68