DEMOREST — The Piedmont College women's basketball team picked up a key win in USA South play on Saturday afternoon taking down the Panthers of Ferrum College 64-53 in front of a packed house at Cave Arena on Maxie Skinner Day, an event honoring Piedmont's first known All-American in any sport.
Ferrum held the lead for most of the 1st quarter until a Mary Kate Rushton 3-pointer with just over a minute to go in the period handed Piedmont its first lead at 8-7. It was a low-scoring affair until Piedmont blew the game wide open in the 3rd quarter with turned up heat on the defensive end.
With just under seven to play in the 3rd, Piedmont led 27-22 before going on to force five turnovers the rest of the period to extend the lead to 13 points before heading to the 4th quarter. PC forced turnovers on back-to-back possessions twice in the 3rd as well.
Piedmont went on a 15-3 run to start the 4th and though Ferrum would make a run to keep it closer at the end, the game was in hand for the home team who extended their season-long winning streak to nine straight staying undefeated in Cave Arena during the 2015-16 season (7-0).
Turning Point
--A 5-turnover stretch in the final 6:46 of the 3rd quarter forced by the home team as Piedmont used the takeaways to pull away from the Panthers.
Standout Performances
--It was the Le'Shaundra Jones show for most of the afternoon as the senior led her team with 20 points shooting 8-of-12 from the floor while also accounting for four steals.
--Zarkia Mattox had 21 points as the only Panther in double-digits hitting on 9-of-13 from the field.
Inside the Box Score
--Piedmont held Ferrum below 40% shooting on the afternoon while hitting better than 47% on the offensive end.
--The Lady Lions also spent most of the day forcing turnovers with Ferrum handing it over 30 times, tying a season-high for a Piedmont opponent set in the season opener vs. Toccoa Falls.
News & Notes
--Following the women's game, there was a special ceremony honoring former Piedmont great Maxie Skinner, grandfather to current Lady Lion Mary Bess Skinner and Piedmont's first known All-American in any sport.
--The win for Piedmont over Ferrum is the first in the last eight meetings between the two USA South members.
--PC improves on its best start in USA South plays since becoming a league member in 2012-13 at now 8-0.
--The only remaining undefeated team in league play along with PC is Maryville...the 13th ranked Scots visit Cave Arena on February 3.
Up Next
A two-game road swing up the coast as Piedmont pays a visit to Meredith College on Saturday, January 30 before heading the next day to Staunton, Virginia for a match-up with Mary Baldwin College. Meredith is currently sitting at 3-4 in conference play and 5-10 overall while the Fighting Squirrels are 0-16 on the year. Saturday is set for a 2 pm tip in Raleigh while the Sunday start is set for 1 pm.
