BREVARD, N.C – The Brevard College women's basketball team (11-8) defeated visiting Wesleyan (0-14) 82-44 in a non-conference matchup Saturday afternoon at the Boshamer Gymnasium.
Senior guard Shakirah Thompson matched her career high with 21 points on 8-of-18 shooting, including five made 3-pointers. It marked the third time in Thompson's career that she scored 21 points, matching her outputs vs. Warren Wilson (Dec. 3, 2021) earlier this season and vs. Agnes Scott on Jan. 8, 2020. It also marked the sixth time in the Atlanta native's career that Thompson has made five or more 3-pointers in a game.
Junior Calli Wells registered career-highs in three statistical categories – points, rebounds and assists. In just her sixth game played this season, Wells shot 6-of-13 with two made 3-pointers to score 14 points and snap her previous career-high of eight points set twice during her freshman season. The native of Fort Mill, South Carolina pulled down a career-best eight rebounds, including two boards on the offensive glass. Wells also set a career-high six assists in her 24 minutes played off the bench.
Senior Melvia Seymore came off the bench as well to record her own career-high scoring output of 14 points. Seymore, a native of Atlanta, scored seven of 14 points in the fourth quarter to snap her previous career-high of 11 points set at Wesleyan (Nov. 21, 2021) and against Warren Wilson (Dec. 3, 2021) earlier this season.
Freshman guard Lexi Shepard scored 10 points and registered six rebounds, while sophomore Makenna Parkins pulled down eight boards to go along with five points, three blocked shots and three assists. Graduate forward Destiny Williams scored nine points to go along with six assists and a game-high six steals.
Three Wesleyan players scored in double figures with Jamila Ra-Hashim's 16 points leading the way. Kelsey Houpt scored 14 points, while Grace Lawson added 10 points.
The Wolves scored the game's opening basket, however, BC answered with a 3-pointer by Shepard off an assist from Parkins to start a 12-0 scoring run and never again trail. The Tornados led 19-9 at the end of the first period and extended their lead even further to take a 45-17 lead into halftime. A Thompson 3-pointer sparked a 9-0 run to start the third quarter as the Tornados held their substantial margin throughout the second half en route to scoring 80 or more points for the fourth time this season.
The game between the Tornados and Wolves marked BC's annual Play4Kay Game to benefit the Kay Yow Cancer Fund with the players, coaches and fans wearing the color pink in support of the cause. Longtime NC State Women's Basketball coach and 8-time national coach of the year Kay Yow passed away in 2009 after a 22-year on-again, off-again battle with breast cancer. Coach Yow's lasting legacy is the Kay Yow Cancer Fund to bring communities together and honor cancer survivors and thrivers in the fight against all cancers against women. Play4Kay is about unity and one goal – to end all cancers affecting women. To become involved, to donate, or to learn more, go to www.kayyow.com
Brevard returns to action seeking its sixth USA South Conference win and to move above .500 in league play when the Tornados host Agnes Scott on Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Boshamer Gymnasium.
To follow the latest news and updates surrounding Brevard College Athletics, follow the Tornados on Twitter/Instagram @BCTornados, subscribe to 'Brevard College Tornados' on YouTube and SoundCloud, and follow 'Brevard College Tornado Athletics' on Facebook. In addition, follow 'brevardcollege' on Flickr for photos from BC events.
-BC-
