DEMOREST, Ga. – Led by a double-double from RACHEL IRBY and 15 points from DAKOTA SULLENS, the Piedmont women's basketball team defeated Maryville 66-55 in the quarterfinals of the USA South Athletic Conference Tournament on Saturday afternoon.
With the win, the Lady Lions advance to the semifinal round of the tournament and will face Greensboro College who is the top seed in the East Division. Gametime is set for 1:00 pm and the semifinal and final rounds will be played at Greensboro College.
Trailing 31-26 with 8:03 left in the third quarter, Piedmont used a 9-4 run to tie the game and took the lead for good after a Sullens free throw with 3:06 left in the third.
The Scots trailed by one after three quarters, but the Lady Lions outscored Maryville 26-16 in the final 10 minutes to eliminate the Scots from the USA South Tournament.
Both teams traded a pair of baskets in the opening 2:25 before Maryville took the lead off a 3-point basket with 6:53 left to play in the first quarter and carried a 15-10 lead into the second.
The Scots opened the second with an 8-0 run and extended their lead to 13 points before a 9-0 run by Piedmont cut the deficit to four points. Maryville would answer and led 29-24 at halftime.
All information about the USA South Tournament can be found here.
Turning Point
-- Trailing by five points early in the third quarter, the Lady Lions used a 10-4 run to take the lead. Piedmont would hold the lead for the remainder of the game.
Standout Performances
-- Piedmont had four players score 12 or more points in the win. Irby had 13 points and 12 rebounds, Sullens had a team-high 15 points, Shields had 13 and AMARI PRICE had 12.
News & Notes
-- This is the third-straight season that Maryville and Piedmont have met in the conference tournament. In the 2015-16 season, Maryville defeated Piedmont in the championship while Piedmont took down Maryville in 2016-17 to claim its first USA South Championship title.
Up Next
-- Piedmont will take on top-seeded Greensboro College on Saturday for a 1:00 p.m tip-off. The semifinal and final rounds will be played at Greensboro College in Greensboro, N.C.