SEWANEE, Tenn. (Feb. 18, 2017) – Despite 31 points from sophomore Bella Taylor, the Sewanee women's basketball team dropped its regular season finale against rival Centre, 73-66, Saturday, inside Juhan Gymnasium.

The Tigers will head into the Southern Athletic Association (SAA) Tournament next weekend with a 9-15 overall record. Sewanee will enter the field as the No. 5 seed and will take on No. 4 Oglethorpe. The tournament will be played at SAA Regular Season Champion Birmingham-Southern.

On Saturday, Centre was red-hot early. The Colonels made 75 percent of their shots in the first quarter. That included a 5-for-6 effort from outside the three-point line. However, the Tigers also played well the opening 10 minutes. Sewanee was down only two, 23-21, heading into the second quarter.

As play continued the Colonels eventually took a seven-point lead into halftime, 39-32. After trailing by as much s 15 with 7:38 left in the third, Sewanee rallied back. Jumpers from Hannah McCormack and Bella Taylor, along with threes from Corey Caulder and Allison Hitchcock, cut the Tiger deficit to eight, 51-43.

A 5-0 run to start the fourth quarter slowed the Tigers over the next five minutes. Down 12 with 3:48 to play, a three by Hitchcock opened a quick 9-0 spurt that cut the Centre lead down to a possession. However, Centre answered back with a layup by Day Vance and a jumper from Olivia Schad. From there, the Colonels made 3-of-4 foul shots to seal the win.

Overall, the Colonels stayed hot making 58.1 percent of their attempts. Sewanee finished with a 40.4 field goal percentage.

Along with Taylor's points, Hitchcock added 15 points on 5-of-8 shooting.

Schad led Center with 16 points and six rebounds.

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