Feb 19, 2016
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.—Avenging one of their two losses this season, the Birmingham-Southern women's basketball team clinched at least a share of the Southern Athletic Association title, and hosting right for the championship next weekend, Friday evening with a 64-52 victory against Rhodes in Bill Battle Coliseum.
The Panthers moved to 21-2 overall and 11-2 in the SAA, while the Lynx fell to 13-11 overall and 7-6 in the SAA. By virtue of Hendrix losing to Millsaps tonight, 47-40, BSC clinched the No. 1 seed in next weekend's SAA Championship, and at least a share of the regular season title for the first time in program history.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- After a slow start by both teams, Rhodes led 6-1 at the 6:15 mark of the first period, and then led 11-6 by the 3:40 mark, both of which would be their largest leads of the game.
- BSC came back to tie it up 13-13 and then led 14-13 by the end of the period.
- After several ties and lead changes in the second period, junior Jameice Holmes hit a three-pointer with nine seconds left in the half to put the Panthers up 28-23.
- BSC pulled out to a 38-27 lead within the first four minutes of the third period, and built the lead up to 17, 49-32, by the end of the third.
- Rhodes kept things interesting in the fourth, cutting the lead back to nine, 57-48, at the 3:27 mark, but the Panthers finished on a 7-4 run to close out the game and win by 12.
NOTABLE
- Aside from its first ever regular season conference title, the Panthers have made history with their record of 21-2, which is the best in program history.
- Rhodes is one of BSC's two losses this year; the Panthers lost 62-57 in Memphis on Jan. 29.
- Senior Yorisha Bryant led all players with 22 points and 10 rebounds, recording her 11th double-double of the season.
- Senior Ashley Curry dished out a game-high seven assists.
- Catherine Eckert led the Lynx with 16 points, and Bailey Kramer led with nine rebounds.
UP NEXT
- BSC wraps up regular season action this Sunday, hosting Hendrix at 1 p.m. With a win, the Panthers will win the regular season title outright.
- It will be Senior Day, with Bryant, Curry, Jade Gibbs, Halle Knowles, and Karschella Toney being honored during a pregame ceremony.