MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Behind a monster performance from Andelin Hill, Piedmont women’s basketball escaped a road scare at Huntingdon, 76-71, on Friday afternoon in Montgomery, Alabama.
After the Lions jumped out to a double digit lead early in the first quarter, the Hawks responded to get back in the contest quickly and it was a tightly contested game from that point forward, until Piedmont was able to eke out the win late.
In a season full of big-time performances, Hill saved her best for the final regular season game, scoring a career-best 29 points and grabbing 14 rebounds to go with three assists, three blocks and two steals. Ashley Scott played all 40 minutes, adding 11 points and a team-high five assists.
The win ensures Piedmont at least a share of the CCS Regular Season Title and the Lions are likely to end up the No. 1 seed for the upcoming CCS Tournament next week. Official seedings will be released by the league office following the conclusion of the regular season on Saturday.
Piedmont blitzed Huntingdon to start the game, scoring the first six points of the game with four coming from Hill. The Lions led 12-2 at one point and eventually 17-6 with 3:28 left in the opening quarter after a three-pointer from Kelsey Banks.
However, the Hawks answered with a 10-0 run over the next 2:27 of game action to cut the Piedmont lead to one point and the Lions led just 20-19 after the opening quarter.
Three-point shooting was the difference in a second quarter that favored Huntingdon, as it made three three-pointers while Piedmont was 0-of-5 from beyond the arc. The Lions’ Ava Hunter scored six points in just three minutes in the second quarter to help Piedmont hang close with Huntingdon leading 37-36 at the break.
After a scoreless first half, Scott caught fire for the Lions in the third quarter, carrying the offense with 10 points on 4-of-4 from the field and 2-of-2 from three-point range. Still, however, the Lions were unable to gain traction as the game went to the final quarter with Piedmont up 59-56.
Both defenses picked up the intensity in the fourth quarter, with neither side able to efficiently score on the offensive end. Huntingdon was able to take the lead at 63-62 with 4:15 remaining. However, a Banks runner on the next possession put Piedmont back in front, sparking a 10-0 run for the Lions with eight straight points coming from Hill following Banks.
Although Piedmont struggled to put the game away at the foul line in the final seconds, multiple defensive stands held the Hawks at bay as Kennedi Henson put the finishing touches on the win with a block and a rebound with the Lions up 73-67 and under 30 seconds to play.
Up next, the Lions will await their official seedings for the upcoming CCS Tournament.
TURNING POINT:
– After Huntingdon took its first lead of the fourth quarter with 4:15 to play, Piedmont responded with a 10-0 run to put the game out of reach down the stretch.
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
– Hill tallied a career-high 29 points and added 14 rebounds on an efficient 12-of-16 from the field.
– Scott scored 10 of her 11 points in the third quarter to keep the Lions in the game.
– Hunter scored 12 points in 19 minutes off the bench.
NEWS AND NOTES:
– Piedmont’s 14 wins in the regular season marks its best since also going 14-2 in the 2018-19 regular season .That Piedmont team ended up hosting and winning the USA South Tournament behind USA South Player of the Year Amari Price.
