BREVARD, N.C. – The Brevard College women's basketball team (15-9, 12-6 USA South) wrapped up the regular season with a 66-52 victory over Salem College (3-19, 5-13 USAS) on Saturday afternoon in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
With the victory, the Tornados clinched the three-seed in the 2023 USA South Conference Women's Basketball Tournament, as Brevard will host Methodist University on Tuesday, February 21 at 6 p.m. at the Boshamer Gymnasium in first-round action.
Sophomore point guard Lexi Shepard led the way for the Tornados with a career-high 21 points on 7-of-13 shooting and a 6-for-7 mark at the free-throw line. Shepard also tied the team lead with eight rebounds and earned three steals.
Freshman forward Olivia Miller added 13 points off the bench with seven boards and three steals, while Chyna Poincey grabbed eight rebounds. Alexis Marshall and Makenna Parkins each totaled four steals, while Parkins contributed on the glass with seven boards. All told, the Tornados outrebounded Salem 57-44.
BC hit its field goals at a 35% clip and made three 3-pointers. BC attempted 23 free throws, draining 15 of them. Brevard turned 29 Spirit turnovers into 28 points-off-turnovers, and the Tornados scored 20 second-chance points.
Salem's Savanah Atkins led the way for the Spirits with 12 points, while Alize Munn grabbed a game-high 12 boards.
Brevard exploded out of the gate, scoring 25 of the first 35 points in the contest to take a 25-10 lead after the first quarter. Calli Wells made a pair of 3-pointers, while Naliyah Boyce scored six points and grabbed two boards in the first period. BC extended its lead in the second quarter, outscoring Salem 18-14 to take a 43-24 lead into the halftime break.
BC sputtered in the third period as Salem was able to climb back in the game, as the Spirits outscored BC 18-7 in the stanza. Brevard was held to a 2-of-12 mark from the field in the third quarter and committed five turnovers.
Salem was able to cut the deficit to seven points, 55-48, but Miller drained a critical 3-pointer with 3:20 remaining in the contest. BC was able to pull away from that point on, clinching the 14-point triumph 66-52.
The Tornados will host no. 6 Methodist on Tuesday, February 21 at 6 p.m. at the Boshamer Gymnasium, marking the second-consecutive season that the Tornados have hosted a first-round playoff game at home.
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