ATLANTA — Playing on Oglethorpe's new blacktop court for the first time since the installation of the unique playing surface earlier this year, the Piedmont College women's basketball team dropped an overtime contest to the hosting Stormy Petrels 77-75 late Saturday afternoon.
Piedmont owned a one-point lead at halftime over OU 30-29 and extended its lead to five with back-to-back baskets coming out of the locker room courtesy of Le'Shaundra Jones and former North Hall standout Mary Kate Rushton.
The contest was close throughout with neither team outscoring the other by more than two points in any of the four quarters or overtime. Tied at 67 at the end of regulation, the two teams traded the lead five teams in the overtime period before OU took the lead for good on a Bailey Charles two-point shot with just under two minutes to play.
Piedmont would have chances to tie or take the lead in the closing minutes of bonus basketball in Atlanta, but could not convert falling by two in the end after a last-second three-point shot by another former North Hall standout Tatlor Swoszowski.
Inside the Box Score
--Piedmont out-rebounded the Stormy Petrels by 11, but the difference came on 24 turnovers by PC with OU converting those takeaways to 22 points in the Saturday contest.
--The Lady Lions used 22 offensive rebounds to turn in 18 second chance points as well.
News & Notes
--The loss is just Piedmont's 2nd in this particular tourney since the Lady Lions starting playing in the challenge in 2012-13 during PC's first year as a USA South member.
--Piedmont owned a 5-1 record coming into this year's USA South/SAA Classic with three straight wins over OU in the event over the last three seasons.
Up Next
Piedmont stays in Atlanta for its next game facing Berry College tomorrow (Nov. 29) for a 2:00 pm tip off as part of the USA South/SAA Challenge. Berry went 18-9 last season and came into this weekend with a 2-2 record before falling to USA South member LaGrange College by 10 earlier today in the first game of the challenge between the two conferences.
