ANDERSON, S.C. -- The Anderson University women's basketball team was defeated by Barton College on Saturday at the Abney Athletic Center. The game determined who would take a stranglehold on first place in the Conference Carolinas, as both teams came in tied for the top spot. Freshman Maci Siniard would provide an early spark for the Trojans as she scored the teams' first four points. The Trojans then used a 10-0 run midway through the first half to take an early 20-11 lead. However early turnovers could prove costly for the Trojans. The Bulldogs capitalized on a series of Anderson turnovers and responded with a 10-2 run, making the score 22-21 in favor of the Trojans with 4:50 remaining in the first half. The remainder of the half was evenly played and the Trojans took a 33-29 lead into the locker room. The pace picked up on both ends of the floor in the second half, and a Shanice Wilson three-point play highlighted a 10-0 run that gave the Trojans a 49-38 advantage midway through the second period. However, in a game of runs, a pair of three-pointers from Esty Flores got the Bulldogs back in the game, and Jannetta Robinson made two free-throws with 7:50 to knot the game at 55-55. Barton held a 63-61 advantage with just 1:23 to play when a foul was called on Anderson point guard Alexa Neal. The foul sent Flores to the line, and she sank two free throws to make it a 65-61 game. Nevertheless, a quick basket by Siniard made it a two point game again. Yet, the Bulldogs would take care of the basketball, and forced the Trojans to foul down the stretch. Jamila Johnson and Flores combined to go 6-of-6 to put the game away. On the night Alexa Neal led the Trojans with 14 points. She was paced by Alissa Diaz who finished with 11 points off the Trojan bench, and Ashley Abed who had 10 points and five rebounds. Junior guard Lauren Beeson also provided energy for the Trojans, scoring eight points off the bench. "Diaz was a spark for us off the bench, and Lauren Beeson had a good game," said head women's basketball coach Jim Brunelli. "Turnover's was just the name of the game. But despite the turnovers we still stayed in the game and felt we could play with them." The loss drops Anderson to 9-6 overall, 8-2 in Conference Carolinas play. While Barton improves to 10-5 on the season, and 9-1 in the conference. The Trojans head on the road Monday to Pfeiffer at Merner Gym with tip-off slated for 5:30 p.m.