BREVARD, N.C. – The Brevard College women's basketball team (13-4, 9-1 USA South) used a big second quarter to propel itself to its 13th win of the season and improve its record to 9-1 in USA South Conference play, as the Tornados defeated Pfeiffer University (3-12, 1-8 USAS) 72-62 on Wednesday evening at the Boshamer Gymnasium.
The win gave Brevard a perfect 4-0 homestand as the Tornados went undefeated with three conference wins and a non-conference victory, as BC completed a busy stretch with four contests in six days at The Bosh.
Freshman guard Makayla Street provided the spark for the Tornados in the victory, matching her career high with 18 points while also hauling in 10 rebounds for her first collegiate double-double performance. The first-year Tornado from Rock Hill, South Carolina scored 16 of her 18 points in a big first half, while going 8-of-13 from the field in the game with two made 3-pointers.
Junior guard Calli Wells added 13 points on three made field goals, two of which being 3-pointers, in addition to five made free throws which was a team-high. Junior forward Makenna Parkins notched her sixth double-double of the season with 11 points and 12 rebounds, while Aysha Short also reached double-figures for Brevard with 11 points and three made 3-pointers while also grabbing five rebounds.
Sophomore point guard Lexi Shepard scored six points and tallied five rebounds, four assists, and two steals, while Naliyah Boyce added six points and six rebounds in 16 minutes of action off the bench for Brevard.
Pfeiffer was led by Tanaesha Ellison and Hannah Isley, who each scored 12 points as Isley notched a double-double with 12 rebounds as well. Alexis Bynum added 10 points to the visiting effort.
BC edged Pfeiffer on shooting from the field, 36% to 33%, but the Falcons held an 8-7 advantage on long-distance buckets. Brevard had the rebounding margin at 55-46 and both sides assisted on 18 buckets. The turnover battle was nearly even, but BC's main advantage came on points from its bench, as the Tornado reserves scored 39 points to Pfeiffer's 11.
The first quarter was tight throughout with neither side getting much separation from the other as the Tornados held on to a one-point lead, 20-19, at the end of the first period. Short led all Tornados with six points on two made 3-pointers, while Street added five points in the first stanza.
Pfeiffer took a brief 24-22 lead after a made layup with 7:40 left in the second quarter before Brevard turned the intensity up a notch, riding Street's hot hand en route to a game-changing 21-2 scoring stretch that gave BC a controlling 17-point lead, 43-26, with just over a minute left in the second quarter. The hosts would take a 47-31 advantage into the halftime locker rooms. Street led all Tornados with 11 points on a perfect 5-of-5 shooting from the field in the second period of play.
The Falcons were able to hang around in the third period, outscoring BC by three points in the third stanza before cutting the deficit down to eight points, 65-57, midway through the fourth quarter. However, the Tornados would hold firm and not allow the Falcons to get any closer as key buckets down the stretch led to a 10-point conference win for Brevard, 72-62.
Brevard embarks on a three-game road swing to finish the month of January as the Tornados will first travel to Raleigh, North Carolina on Saturday, January 21 at 4 p.m. to take on William Peace University. The season's first meeting between the two opponents went in favor of Brevard, 82-58.
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-BC-