MARYVILLE, Tenn. — For the first time since joining the USA South, the Piedmont College women's basketball team claimed the conference tournament title in a rematch from a year ago against Maryville College 58-44 on the Scots' home court.
CARLIE SHIELDS earned Tournament MVP honors posting a 21-point performance including 15 points in the second half.
The Lady Lions led 11-8 after the first quarter and had their largest lead of the game at five points with 7:26 to play till the half. The Scots went on a run scoring three straight 3-pointers to take the lead 19-17 but PC regained the lead just before the half when DAKOTA SULLENS hit a layup with six seconds remaining to lead 22-21.
The third quarter was when PC stepped on the gas scoring 20 points after having just 22 at the half. Piedmont built a seven point lead after a 3-pointer by BRIDGETTE KELLY and a layup by Shields to lead 36-29 and extended it to a nine point lead 42-33 to end the third quarter.
Shields added another three points to start the fourth quarter, but the Scots began an 11-0 run to cut the lead to a single point 45-44 with 4:47 to play. From that point on, the Lady Lions' stingy defense would shut down the Scots and hold them scoreless to close out the game while Piedmont scored 13 over the final 4:30 of the contest to seal the title.
The title is the first for Piedmont since the 2010-11 season when PC earned the GSAC crown and advanced to the NCAA Tournament.
Turning Point
--Piedmont held Maryville scoreless over the final 4:30 of the contest while making a 13-0 run to close out the championship.
