BREVARD, N.C. – Bri Lanham scored a game-high 16 points and was one of five Berea players to top the double figure mark as the Mountaineers earned a 78-46 victory over Brevard in women's basketball action at Boshamer Gym on Saturday afternoon.
Lanham, who finished 6-of-10 from the field, was also active on the glass with eight rebounds (four offensive). She was joined in double figure scoring by Kelsey Tippit (13), Marley Lawson (12), Adriana Williams (11) and Nakeisha Greene (10). Greene, like Lanham, narrowly missed a double-double as she pulled down a team-high nine rebounds.
The well-balanced Berea offense finished 31-of-61 (50.8%) on the afternoon, hitting four 3-pointers along the way, while converting 12-of-21 (57.1%) at the charity stripe. The Mountaineers capitalized on 17 offensive rebounds as they finished with a 47-16 advantage in points in the paint.
Brevard, who slipped to 10-9 with the setback, was led offensively by Annalee Bollinger's 15-point effort. Bollinger finished the afternoon by hitting 6-of-15 from the floor and 3-of-10 from beyond the arc to go along with six rebounds.
Whitney DeMoss also put together a solid outing for the Tornados, scoring seven points and finishing with nine caroms (four offensive). Teammates Jade Napier, who finished with seven points, and Kelsie Rhyne (four points, five rebounds) were also integral for Brevard.
Trailing 41-23 as the two teams emerged from the intermission, the combination of a trey by Bollinger and scores by Rhyne and Napier helped the Tornados put together a 7-2 run as they pulled within 13. Berea amped up its defensive effort, while taking advantage of nine points by Lanham and five from Tippit to lead 62-34 through three quarters.
The 19-4 run to close the third continued into fourth for the Mountaineers, who scored nine of the first 11 points of the frame. Bollinger knocked down the second field goal of the quarter and added a jumper less than two minutes later to make for a 74-41 Berea lead. DeMoss added a layup and Bollinger followed with a 3-pointer inside the final minute to make for the final Tornado points.
Highlighted by a 3-pointer from Kiley Barnard, Berea established an early 10-2 lead early in the first quarter. Bollinger attempted to kick start the Brevard offense with a jumper, but points from Greene and Tippit kept the Mountaineers in front 18-6. Bollinger drained her second 3-pointer of the half, moving the Tornados into double figures at the close of the quarter.
Working with a 14-point lead to open the second, the Mountaineers scored 11 of the first 17 points to grab a 35-16 advantage on a jumper by Lanham. Destiny Williams and Napier answered with buckets for the Tornados, but a layup by Lawson provided the Berea with a 41-20 lead. Napier drove home a 3-pointer inside the final minute to make for a 41-23 lead by the Mountaineers at the intermission.
The Brevard women's basketball team makes it return to the court on Wednesday, Feb. 7, where they face Piedmont at 6 p.m. at Boshamer Gym.
