BREVARD, N.C. – Freshman forward Olivia Miller and junior forward Makenna Parkins each tallied double-doubles, as the Brevard College women's basketball team (1-0) opened the 2022-223 season with a convincing 67-49 victory over Bob Jones University (0-1) on Tuesday evening at the Boshamer Gymnasium.
Parkins, a native of Marion, North Carolina, led all players in the contest with 16 points on 6-of-18 shooting from the field and a perfect 4-for-4 mark at the free throw line while hauling in 11 rebounds (seven defensive, four offensive) with three assists and two blocks. The effort marked the fifth double-double of the dual-sport athlete's career.
Miller, a first-year forward from Hudson, North Carolina by way of South Caldwell High School, impressed in her collegiate debut for the Tornados, logging 13 points on a 6-of-15 mark from the field, while turning in an all-around effort with 10 rebounds, five assists, and five steals with a block to complete a banner day for the Tornado newcomer.
Lexi Shepard, BC's returning sophomore point guard from Summerville, South Carolina, matched Miller's team-high five-assist output while also becoming the third Tornado to reach double-figures in scoring in the contest, reaching 10 points on 4-of-9 from the field with a pair of 3-pointers. Makayla Street impressed in her collegiate debut with eight points and four steals, while Calli Wells hit two 3-pointers and totaled three steals defensively.
Bob Jones was led by Shea Dickenson in the contest, who added a double-double of her own to the game script with 14 points and 11 boards. Bethany Daulton added nine points and eight boards, while Ainsley Hutton totaled nine rebounds (six defensive, three offensive).
Although the visitors held a slight shooting advantage, Brevard's defense told the story of the contest, as the Tornados forced 29 Bruin turnovers and converted them to a whopping 28 points-off-turnovers. BC logged 48 rebounds in the contest, 22 of which came on the offensive glass, which the Tornados turned into 16 second-chance points. BC held a 38-28 advantage on scoring in the painted area and out-ran its opposition with 17 fastbreak points.
In a contest that the Tornados led by 22 points at one point, the first quarter proved back-and-forth, with Brevard holding a six-point advantage after one period, 16-10.
BC held a 26-20 advantage at the 3:58 mark in the second quarter before Wells drained a long-range bucket to push the lead to nine points. This bucket kicked off a 10-3 run to end the first half, as the Tornados took a 13-point, 36-23 lead into the locker room. Parkins led all scorers at the break with eight points, while Miller added six points, four rebounds, and four assists.
The Tornados were able to extend their lead to as many as 22 in the third quarter, outscoring the Bruins 17-11 in the frame while Miller and Parkins combined for nine of the 17 points in the quarter.
Shepard hit a 3-pointer and scored five points in the final period as the Tornados closed out their 18-point win over Bob Jones, 67-49.
The Tornados will now embark on a season-long six-game road stretch, beginning in tournament action at Covenant College this Friday and Saturday in Lookout Mountain, Georgia. Brevard matches up with Greenville University for the second-consecutive year in the preseason-style tournament on Friday at 6 p.m. before taking on Anderson University (Ind.) on Saturday at 2 p.m. for the first time in program history.
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-BC-