ROME, Ga. – Chanlir Segarra netted 28 points and Mel McLean had a career-best 26, but Oglethorpe University defeated Berry College, 82-76, on Thursday night.
Berry dropped to 3-2 and 0-1 in the Southern Athletic Association. OU is now 2-5 and 1-0.
Segarra was 9-17, made 9-12 free throws and tallied 17 points in the second half. McLean was 9-18 and made 5-8 three pointers.
Led by Segarra, the Vikings rallied from a big deficit and nearly overtook the visitors. She scored Berry's last nine points and help reduce the lead to 76-73 with 1:10 remaining. Yet OU made 4-4 free throws down the stretch to secure the win.
"We played the way we like to play for 10 minutes of a 40 minute game," said Berry Head Coach Stephanie Dunn. "Our effort in the second half almost overcame the slow start to the game. We missed too many easy shots and Oglethorpe made their shots tonight. We are learning from our mistakes and it's still early in the season. We will continue to work hard."
The Stormy Petrels shot 50-percent from the field (30-60) and Berry was 25-65 (39-percent).
Oglethorpe got off to strong start. McLean's hot hand kept Berry in the game early as she had 20 points at halftime. OU shot 52-percent (16-31) to BC's 40-percent (12-30) in the first 20 minutes.
The Stormy Petrels led 35-25 with 4:50 left in the half. The Vikes, however, closed the half with a 15-5 run and trailed 42-40 at the break.
The Petrels outscored the Vikings 27-5 to open the second half. The visitors led 67-45 with 11:53 remaining in regulation.
Oglethorpe had four players score in double figures led by McKenzie Forston's 19 points. OU won the battle of the boards, 42-38.
Berry hosts Emory--4-0 and 14th in the D3Hoops.com national poll--on Saturday afternoon. Tipoff is 2 p.m. at the Cage Center.