DEMOREST, Ga. – The Piedmont women’s basketball team was unable to overcome a hot-shooting LaGrange in a 79-69 loss to open CCS play on Friday night at Cave Arena.
The Panthers pulled away with a big second quarter and kept the Lions at bay in the second half to earn the victory.
Piedmont freshman forward Alexandria Willis delivered career highs in points (18) and rebounds (12), recording her first career double-double to lead the Lions. Laken Stiles pitched in 14 points and made both of her three-point attempts while adding a team-best four assists. Ashley Scott (13 points) and Andelin Hill (11 points) also reached double figures in the loss.
However, LaGrange’s Zyhia Johnnson proved difficult to contain, as she led all scorers with 26 points on 11-of-18 shooting.
The early portion of the first quarter was back-and-forth, with the score tied at 11-all nearly four minutes into the contest. However, the Panthers began to pull away starting midway through the first, using a 17-5 run to end the period and establish a double-digit advantage heading to the second.
In the second quarter, LaGrange increased its lead, putting the Lions in a big early deficit. The Panthers made five three-pointers in the first half compared to one for the Lions while holding Piedmont to just 30 percent from the floor.
Piedmont fought back in the second half, outscoring the Panthers in each of the third and fourth quarters. Unfortunately, the deficit proved too much to overcome.
After trailing by a game-high 25 points late in the third quarter, the Lions reeled off 12 straight points to put a scare in the Panthers. However, the deficit never reached single digits as LaGrange iced the game.
TURNING POINT:
– After the score was tied at 11 apiece early, LaGrange outscored Piedmont 34-16 to build a 45-27 halftime advantage.
