BREVARD, N.C. – The tandem of Annalee Bollinger and Destiny Williams scored 16 points each and teammate Kelsie Rhyne added 12 as the Brevard women's basketball team moved its winning streak to four games following a 72-47 triumph over visiting Wesleyan on Saturday afternoon at Boshamer Gym.
Bollinger topped double figures for the 11th time this season by hitting 5-of-11 from the floor, including two from 3-point range, while finishing a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line. Williams eclipsed the double-digit mark for the sixth time this season and second time in as many games by finishing 5-of-12 from the field and 6-of-9 at the charity stripe. She completed a solid all-around performance with seven rebounds and five steals in 26 minutes of play.
Rhyne enjoyed her second double-digit performance in as many games by converting 5-of-9 field goals and two free throws to go along with six rebounds (three offensive). She was one of six Tornados (8-5) with at least four boards, including Whitney DeMoss, who pulled down a team-best 12 rebounds (nine defensive) as Brevard finished with a 51-41 edge in caroms.
Brevard, which limited the Wolves to 23.7 percent shooting (14-59), took advantage of a 34-14 edge in points in the paint as well as a 16-4 advantage in bench scoring in the win. Both teams were shackled by a combined 43 fouls, which limited Wesleyan to four players on the floor for the final 3:17 of the game.
Wesleyan's offense was led by the duo of TK Blount and Taylor Thigpen, who scored 16 and 14 points, respectively. Teammate Alexis Russell added 13 rebounds, including four on the offensive glass.
Trailing 34-22 at the intermission, Wesleyan scored the first four points of the third quarter to pull within eight. DeMoss got the Brevard offense back on track with a layup, while Rhyne added two layups in a one minute span to stretch the Tornados' advantage to 43-29.
With its offense clicking on all cylinders, Brevard took advantage of a 3-point from Jade Napier and six free throws from the trio of Bollinger, Rhyne and Deja Riddick to assume a 55-34 lead through three quarters.
Five points by Blount and four from Russell allowed the Wolves to gradually chip away at the Brevard lead in the opening 5:31 of the fourth quarter. That tandem allowed Wesleyan to pull within 12 before Williams came through with seven of Brevard's next nine points to make for a 66-47 with 1:51 remaining.
Brevard added six points down the stretch, including four off layups by Rhyne and DeMoss, to complete the 25-point victory.
Bollinger led all scorers with 12 points in the opening half, knocking down 4-of-7 from the floor, including a pair from 3-point range. She also made her presence felt with two steals, while DeMoss and Williams hauled in six rebounds each.
Rhyne got second quarter scoring started for both teams with a layup as the Tornado lead reached seven. A quick 3-pointer by Blount followed, but Brevard stretched its lead to 26-16 on an 8-3 run. Another timely trey, this time from Taylor Hauser, pulled the Wolves to within seven with just under six minutes remaining.
The Tornados countered with an 8-0 run that spanned 3:15 of the contest, highlighted by a 3-pointer by Shakirah Thompson, to move in front 34-19. Hauser stepped up with a layup to halt the scoring burst and Russell added a free throw to move Wesleyan within 12 at the intermission.
Brevard grabbed the early 7-0 lead, keyed by a trey from Bollinger, before Thigpen drove home a 3-pointer for the first Wesleyan points at the 7:22 mark. The Tornados established an 11-3 advantage, following a jumper by DeMoss, however 10 points over a 2:26 stretch that included six free throw conversions by Thigpen and pulled the Wolves to within a pair. Brevard closed out the frame with a 3-pointer from Bollinger, leading 18-13.
The Tornados return to the court for an exhibition at Wofford on Monday, Jan. 15 at 6 p.m.
