Joseph Marvin: Assistant Sports Information Director
DEMOREST, Ga. - The Brevard College Tornados Women's Basketball team (7-9, 3-7 USAS) hung around with the first place Piedmont Lions (15-3, 9-0 USAS) for the better part of three quarters. However, the Lions outscored the Tornados 29-7 in the fourth quarter to triumph by a final score of 78-48.
Sophomore Deja Riddick led Tornado scorers, tallying nine points and nine rebounds in a near double-double effort. Freshman Avery Lockwood added eight points on 4-of-8 shooting while grabbing 10 rebounds. Annalee Bollinger, the Tornados' leading scorer in 2018-19, contributed on the defensive glass by grabbing seven rebounds. Krysta Davis led the BC reserves with six points and five rebounds.
Piedmont's Amari Price led all scorers by exploding for 24 points on 7-of-14 shooting while stuffing the stat sheet by dishing out seven assists, grabbing five board, and swiping two steals. Brittany Walker helped Piedmont's efforts with a double-double performance of 11 points and 11 rebounds.
BC stayed tight with the USA South West Division-leading Piedmont Lions for three quarters, holding multiple leads along the way.
Both sides struggled to find their rhythm in the first period, as BC shot 25% compared to Piedmont's 17.6% as the score was tied at 10-10.
Brevard and Piedmont played neck-and-neck through the first five minutes of the second quarter before the Tornados used a 7-0 run to take a 27-22 lead, which was their biggest lead of the contest. Piedmont scored on back-to-back possessions to cut BC's lead to one point at the half, 27-26. Riddick and Ty'She Washington each scored five points to carry the Tornados' second quarter run.
Walker's and-one layup turned the tides in the third quarter, giving Piedmont a 33-29 advantage. The Lions would extend their lead to eight points at 49-41 at the end of the third period.
Piedmont then exploded in the final quarter, using a 29 point scoring outburst to claim a 78-48 victory in Demorest, Georgia.
The Lions used efficient shooting to carry themselves to their 15th victory of the season, as Piedmont hit 27-of-66 (40.9%) shots, while Brevard's 17-of-66 (25.8%) mark, including a 2-of-26 (7.7%) from downtown, was well below its season average.
Piedmont was very opportunistic defensively, forcing 22 turnovers which it turned into 24 points. The Lions held a 42-26 points in the paint advantage, pounding the ball inside throughout the contest.
The Tornados return home on Saturday, January 19 for a conference rematch against LaGrange College (8-7, 3-4 USAS), which is part of doubleheader action at the Boshamer Gymnasium. Brevard's men's team will face LaGrange at 2 p.m., with the women following soon after at 4 p.m. the BC Tornados Women's Basketball team faced LaGrange on January 4, falling 56-55 in overtime.
To follow along with all the latest news and updates surrounding Brevard College Athletics, please follow the Tornados on Twitter and Instagram @bctornados, or like Brevard College Athletics on Facebook.
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