DEMOREST, Ga. – Carlie Shields and Jatasia Bailey scored 15 points each to led Piedmont to a 76-59 victory over Brevard in women's basketball action on Tuesday evening. The loss halted the Tornados' longest winning streak, five games, since the 2014-15 campaign when Brevard won four games between Jan. 31-Feb. 9, 2015.
Bailey finished 6-of-9 from the floor, converting a trio of 3-pointers along the way, as she guided the way for a Lions unit that finished 25-of-58 (43.1%) from the field. Her counterpart, Shields, reached double figures due in large part to a 9-of-10 outing from the free throw line.
Shields was one of five Piedmont (16-3) players to hit multiple free throws in the game, highlighting a team that finished 21-of-29 (72.4%) at the charity stripe. Amari Price and Rachel Irby also topped double figures, scoring 11 and 10 points respectively.
Annalee Bollinger, who finished off the game by hitting 4-of-11 from the field and 7-of-8 at the free throw line, led all scorers with 17 points. Bollinger, who was also active on the glass with five rebounds, was joined in double figure scoring by fellow starters Destiny Williams and Whitney DeMoss, who added 10 points each.
Brevard (9-6) finished off the game by hitting 19-of-50 (38%) from the field and 17-of-26 (65.4%) at the free throw line. The Tornados edged Piedmont in total rebounds (38-35), grabbing 27 defensive boards, with solid performances from Williams (seven rebounds) and Kelsie Rhyne (six).
Facing a 42-19 deficit entering the third quarter of action, Brevard used four points by Bollinger and two from DeMoss to trim the Lions' lead to 44-25. After a 6-0 run by Piedmont, which stretched the advantage to 25, Bollinger knocked down a trey and added two free throws to account for the next five Tornado points at the 4:26 mark.
Brevard closed the third quarter by scoring 10 of the final 15 points, highlighted by five points each from Bollinger and Jade Napier to slice the margin to 58-41.
Bollinger and DeMoss opened the final quarter with four points, making for a 15-point advantage, but a 3-pointer by Bailey extended the Lions' lead to 72-50. Brevard capitalized on two Napier free throws and one from Bollinger, but Piedmont earned the victory.
Four points from DeMoss and a key 3-pointer off the hand of Rhyne provided the Tornados with a 9-7 lead less than four minutes into the game. Shields hit two free throws to deadlock the game at nine, sparking a 9-1 run over the final 5:54 of the frame, as the Lions lead 16-10 entering the second period.
DeMoss opened second quarter scoring with a layup, pulling Brevard within four, but the Lions offense regained its previous form as it rattled off nine unanswered points to move in front 25-12. The Tornados tallied six points in a 2:44 stretch, but it was not enough to offset the Piedmont offense that established a 39-18 advantage behind points each from Lakerra Lawson and Amari Price.
The Tornados return to action on Saturday, Jan. 27th, when they host LaGrange at Boshamer Gym at 2 p.m.