DEMOREST, Ga. – Piedmont women’s basketball clinched its first ever Collegiate Conference of the South Tournament Title, rolling over Belhaven in the second half with a 64-51 win on Saturday afternoon inside Cave Arena.
Nae-Nae Eades was the catalyst for the Lions on offense, scoring a career-high 20 points on 18-of-22 from the free throw line while dishing out four assists. After the game, she was named CCS Tournament MVP.
Eades was joined in double figures by Alexandria Willis, who tallied 16 points and 12 rebounds, her fourth double double of the season. Seniors Ashley Scott and Andelin Hill pitched in as well, with Scott scoring 13 points and Hill grabbing a career-high 19 rebounds in the win.
🏆 CCS CHAMPIONS! 🏆
Piedmont wins 64-51 over Belhaven to claim the women’s basketball title! pic.twitter.com/QdGVU63a6y
— Piedmont Lions (@PiedmontLions) March 1, 2025
Both teams struggled shooting the ball, with Piedmont claiming the win despite a 25.4% field goal percentage. However, the Lions were stifling on the defensive end, holding the Blazers to 27.7% shooting.
Piedmont’s aggressiveness on offense was the difference, shooting a season-high 40 free throws and making 31 of them, led by Eades’ 18-of-22 performance.
For the second straight game, it was a slow start for the Lions, with Belhaven jumping out to an 8-1 lead. Despite trailing for most of the first quarter, the Lions cut their deficit to 19-17 on an Ava Hunter layup in the final seconds of the first quarter.
While Belhaven was 8-of-12 from the field in the first quarter, the Piedmont defense was lockdown the rest of the game, holding the Blazers to just 10 field goals over the final three quarters. After Belhaven led 27-22 with 6:20 left in the second quarter, Piedmont did not allow another point until 5:37 left in the third quarter. By that point, the Lions had taken control with a 22-0 run to lead 44-27.
From there, Piedmont led by double digits the rest of the way, icing the championship down the stretch thanks to rock solid free throw shooting, smothering defense and relentless rebounding.
Hear from the CCS Women’s Basketball Tournament MVP herself!
Nae-Nae Eades scored a career-high 20 points with 18 of those coming on free throws! pic.twitter.com/YvAxmnTjOZ
— Piedmont Lions (@PiedmontLions) March 2, 2025
This marks Piedmont’s first conference tournament title since three-peating in the USA South from 2017-19. The last of those three wins came in 2019 at Cave Arena.
The win gives the Lions an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, with the placement and matchup being announced Monday.
TURNING POINT:
– Piedmont used a 22-0 run, holding the Blazers scoreless for over 11 minutes to take control of the game.
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
– Nae-Nae Eades delivered a career-high 20 points, 18 of which came on made free throws.
– Andelin Hill pulled down a career-best 19 rebounds.
– Alexandria Willis tallied a double double with 16 points and 12 rebounds.
Another career-high, this time for Andelin Hill with 19 rebounds earning her a spot on the All-Tournament team!
You heard her! They’re excited for that 💍 pic.twitter.com/hXcBGzvauy
— Piedmont Lions (@PiedmontLions) March 2, 2025
And one more All-Tournament honor goes to Ashley Scott!
Going out a champ! pic.twitter.com/XffMcQ6D1A
— Piedmont Lions (@PiedmontLions) March 2, 2025
NEWS AND NOTES:
– This marks the seventh career conference tournament title for head coach Jamie Purdy. She has now won a conference tournament in three different leagues (3 in the USA South, 3 in the GSAC, 1 in the CCS).
