DANVILLE, Ky. - Berry Women's Basketball (8-7 overall, 2-2 SAA), fell in their road Southern Athletic Association match-up to the Colonels of Centre College (12-3 overall, 3-1 SAA) in tonight's game, 53-48.

From the tip, Centre controlled the game. A quick 7-0 run forced a Vikings timeout and surged their first points at 7:11 with a made Kenadie Lee layup. The Colonels refused to let up and pushed their lead to 11-2.

Now it was time for Berry to inch their way back in. Sarah Wright's jumper, assisted from Lee, just under the five-minute mark of the first quarter started a 5-0 run. The fight of the Vikings in the last seventeen seconds shocked Centre and the ending to the first quarter was an Ellie Gearing layup and a steal from Jeryn Jarrett with a last second layup for Berry to be down by two heading into the second (14-12), a remarkable score considering the Vikings had no first quarter rebounds and Centre shot 87% from the field.

To begin the second quarter, Elly Callihan nailed her second three of the night and secured the Vikings first lead of the game at 15-14. However, the Colonels responded with a three of their own to take back advantage. Centre held strong throughout the second and was up 25-19 at the half.

Berry struggled at the beginning of the third to find a bucket until three minutes in when freshman Ava Travis notched one (27-21). Halfway through the third, Centre found their largest lead of the night at eleven after a made floater and layup. The Vikings tried to elbow their way back but would only be able to bring it within seven before the final ten minutes of play (37-30).

The fourth quarter brought a tough match. With a quick five points for Berry, three from Karlee Armstrong, the Colonels were stunned that the game was now just a one possession difference (37-35). Playing on their home court, Centre found their own 5-0 run and after a Lee three pointer with 6:30 to go in the game both teams went quite at the rim. Right under three minutes a Viking's foul put Centre on the line for two, but that's all Lee needed to score a quick layup and bring the game right back to where it was (44-40). Armstrong drove to the basket and brought the game within one possession yet again.

Wright's steal created some transition points for a lead at 1:12 as leading scorer, Lee hit a tough three (45-44). The one-point advantage forced a Centre timeout as they drew up a play to convert a quick two, and they did.

With Centre back in the lead with under a minute to go, what seemed to be a wide-open layup for the Colonels turned into a charge on the passer! Head Coach Thomas Johnson hurried a timeout to advance the ball with 25 seconds to go. 

A back court violation on the Vikings gave Centre the ball and would force Berry to foul. Making both of their free-throws, Centre took the win, and the Vikings comeback was not enough for a road victory.

Vikings Women's Basketball continues SAA play on Sunday at Sewanee.Game time is set for 2:00 PM ET.