NEWBERRY, S.C. - - Newberry scored 34 first quarter points and drained nine first half 3-pointers en route to an 85-68 South Atlantic Conference women's basketball victory over UVA Wise at Eleazer Arena Saturday.

Newberry (12-9, 9-7 SAC) began the game with a blistering pace. The Wolves made six first quarter 3-pointers as Keli Romas scored 10 of her game-high 19 points in the first 10 minutes of action.

The fast start by the hosts proved to be too much to overcome for UVA Wise (10-12, 6-10 SAC). The Cavaliers fell behind by as many as 22 points in the opening half before battling back in the game.

Freshman Nia Vanzant scored six of her 18 points in the second quarter as the Cavaliers cut the deficit to 50-36 at intermission.

Jamie Cluesman's team would get the contest back to within single digits and trailed by just nine with 1:25 to play in the third quarter on a layup by Catrina Wood.

It would be as close as UVA Wise would get as Newberry would close the period on 5-1 scoring spurt to push the game back to double digits moving to the fourth quarter.

The Wolves would put to rest any hope of a comeback in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter by starting the period with four quick points to make it a 71-54 with less than nine minutes remaining.

Three other UVA Wise players joined Vanzant in double figures as Caitlyn Ross tallied 13 points and Hanna Oliver and Ada Stanley netted 10 each. Stanley finished a rebound shy of a double-double while adding three assists and two blocks.

Ericka Wisely tossed in 18 points and Mylaysia Gates added 12 in the win for Newberry.

The Wolves were limited to just one 3-pointer in the second half but enjoyed a 15-point advantage from beyond the arc for the game as the Cavs made five 3-pointers in the game.

Newberry also enjoyed a healthy advantage on the glass winning the battle of the boards 43-to-33. The Wolves grabbed 14 offensive rebounds and turned the extra opportunities into 18 points.

Next up, UVA Wise will host Lincoln Memorial Wednesday in a pivotal SAC contest. The two schools are battling for one of the final league tournament berths.