Lady Lions pick up key road win at Huntingdon

MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- The Piedmont College women's basketball team got exactly what they needed earlier today knocking off USA South foe Huntingdon College by seven points on the road to pick up a key win in the South Division of the league. Piedmont now sits in second place in the South Division, one game clear of LaGrange College who may have punched their ticket to the USA South postseason earlier today upsetting South Division leader Maryville College, a team that visits the Cave on Wednesday evening.

Piedmont never trailed in today's win going on an incredible 21-2 run over the first 6:16 to start the game as the Lady Lions hit on nine of their first 11 tries from the field including two three-point efforts, one of which came from Julianne Bayer, just her fifth of the 2014 season. PC led by as much as 27 in the first half, but saw their margin trimmed down over the final nine minutes of the half after opening up that largest lead with the Lady Lions scoring only seven points over the final 7:19 of the first.

Before the halftime break came, a jumper by Huntingdon's Pat Pickens remarkably brought the lead into single digits as HC trailed by just nine at the half after falling behind 37-10 just past the midway point of the opening period.

Up 46-37 after 20 minutes, Piedmont would no longer enjoy the comfortable leads they did in the first half as the two traded buckets as the Lady Hawks stayed within striking distance cutting the margin down to four midway through the second half.

However, Piedmont answered the bell led by senior Lauren Hamel who bookended a 9-0 run for PC to put her team up 13 and set the tone for a fighting finish for the visitors. Each time the Lady Hawks made a run at the lead, PC turned up the defensive pressure not allowing a field goal to HC for the last 4:24 of the game as HC's final nine points came at the free throw line.

Up four with just over a minute to go, the Lady Lions closed out in style hitting three of four from the line to ice a 77-70 decision on the road as Huntingdon didn't score in the final minute to close the gap.

Four Lady Lions were in double figures on the afternoon for PC including top scorer and USA South Player of the Week candidate Chandler Alverson who tallied 18 points on 7-of-15 shooting as she hit three of her nine three-point tries. Alverson also topped the team in steals with four on the day as she scored better than 16 points per contest on the week helping Piedmont to a 2-1 showing, all three of which came in league action.

Taylor Swoszowski was the definition of efficiency on the way to her 14 points as she was 5-of-6 from the field and also a perfect four of four at the charity stripe. Her four assists was a team-high as well. With ten points, senior Lauren Hamel shot 33 percent from the field knocking down both of her free throws and pulling down a pair of boards to go with two assists.

The final Lady Lion in double digits was Symone Ball who tallied 11 points shooting 75 percent from the field also making a perfect five of five from the line. Veteran Charlotte Lewallen earned a team-high five rebounds on the afternoon as PC pulled down 38 as a team to the Lady Hawks' 53.

With the win, Piedmont moves to 15-8 overall but improves most importantly to 9-5 in conference play tightening their position in 2nd in the South Division behind leader Maryville College who sits at 12-2 in league action. After PC's last three wins, the girls from Demorest have dropped their next decision, a streak the squad hopes does not continue this coming week as two vital USA South games remain on the schedule.

The Lady Lions now turn their attention to the Lady Scots of Maryville College who were upset earlier today by LaGrange in conference play and will be hungry for a win on Wednesday night in the Cave as MC comes to Demorest for a USA South showdown with PC. Tip off in the key South Division matchup is set for 5:30 pm. Live coverage will be provided courtesy of the Mane Event Broadcasting Network.