LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Piedmont College women’s basketball team saw its season end with a 77-67 loss at No. 20 Transylvania in the NCAA Championship First Round on Friday evening in Lexington, Kentucky.
The Pioneers (26-2) pulled away in the second quarter and held off a furious Piedmont (23-6) rally late in the fourth to come away with the 10-point victory.
AMARI PRICE led the Lady Lions (23-6) with 18 points to go with four rebounds and three assists. HOPE FRANKLIN tallied a double-double for the sixth time this season, scoring 15 points to go with 11 rebounds. ASHLYN ELLISON also was productive off the bench, scoring 12 points while adding four assists and three boards.
Piedmont started off strong on the offensive end, attacking the rim and shooting 53 percent from the field in the first quarter. However, Transy knocked down 4-of-7 from long range and all four free throw attempts to take a 24-18 lead into the second quarter.
The Pioneers stifled PC’s offense in the second, holding the Lady Lions to just two points through the first eight and a half minutes of the period before RACHEL IRBY’s and-one stopped the 17-2 Transy run.
With an 18-point deficit at the half, the Lady Lions began hitting from long range, but Transylvania’s offense remained steady to keep PC’s deficit at 18 heading to the final 10 minutes.
In the fourth quarter, Piedmont made a furious rally, cutting the Pioneers’ lead to as few as seven points. However, the Pioneers held steady and iced the game at the free throw line to advance to the NCAA Championship Second Round.
The Lady Lions finished the season with a 23-6 record, its program-record fourth straight with at least 20 wins. The Lady Lions also took home the USA South Championship for the third year in a row,
