Playing in their final regular season game the Centre women's basketball team was able to force overtime against Birmingham Southern on Sunday, February 20 in Birmingham, Ala., but the Colonels were unable to beat the Panthers falling 84-81. Centre finished the regular season 17-8 overall and 11-5 in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference.

Katelyn Wilson opened the game by knocking down a jumper to give Birmingham Southern the early 2-0 advantage.

Senior Angela Tronzo (Bardstown, Ky.) responded by hitting a jumper of her own to tie the game at 2-2 with 19:25 remaining in the first half of play.

The Panthers went on a 5-0 run before sophomore Chelsea Benham (Taswell, Ind.) made a jumper to cut the lead down to three points with 17:55 to go in the first half of play.

Birmingham Southern then took a six point lead on two separate occasions before the Colonels were able to go on a run and take their first lead of the game. Freshman Paige Baechle (Gallatin, Tenn.) converted on a jumper to give Centre the 16-15 lead with 11:56 on the clock.

Centre was unable to hold onto the lead for long, as Caroline King made a three pointer to put the Panthers back ahead 18-16 on their ensuing possession.

The Colonels tied the game at 18-18 following another made jumper by Baechle, but King knocked down her second straight three pointer to give Birmingham Southern the 21-18 lead with 10:53 remaining before the break.

Birmingham Southern built up a seven point lead with 6:57 on the clock, but the Colonels used a 7-0 run that was led by Benham who had five of the points to tie the game up for the third time.

The Panthers would regain the momentum during the last 3:24 of the first half, as they went into the break with the 40-33 advantage.

During the first half of play Centre converted on 44.8% of their shots from the floor and they went 4-4 from the free throw line. Birmingham-Southern made 51.9% of their shots from the floor and they hit four of their six free throw shots.

Junior Maggie Prewitt (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) put the Colonels within five points of the Panthers after she made a jumper to start the second half.

Birmingham Southern would take their largest lead of the game with 17:39 on the clock after Ashton Spurgin went one for two from the free throw line to put the Panthers up 44-35.

The Panthers held a comfortable lead until almost half way through the second half when Prewitt converted on a three pointer to tie the game at 51-51.

Sam Davidson answered with a three pointer to put Birmingham Southern back ahead.

The Colonels were able to keep the score close and with 1:08 left in the game junior Jane Goatley (Springfield, Ky.) hit a three pointer to tie the game at 71-71.

Both teams then exchanged baskets to make it a 73-73 game with 21 seconds on the clock. The Panthers would hold the ball for the last shot in hopes of winning the game, but they were unable to convert on the final shot attempt and at the end of regulation the score was tied at 73-73.

During the overtime period Birmingham Southern took the lead from the start and they wouldn't look back, although Centre was able to keep the game close during the five minutes of play.

Prewitt had the Colonels within two points of the Panthers with five seconds on the clock. Alex Adams hit her second of two free throw attempts for Birmingham Southern with three seconds on the clock and the Colonels were unable to get a shot off before the buzzer sounded, as the Panthers ended up winning 84-81.

Centre made 46.9% of their shots from the floor during the game and they hit 16-18 free throw shots. Birmingham Southern made 47.3% of their shots from the floor and they converted on 69.2% of their free throw attempts. The Colonels out rebounded the Panthers 35-31.

Prewitt led all scorers with 27 points, while also posting eight assists. Benham had a game high 12 rebounds and she also recorded a blocked shot.

Leading the way for Birmingham Southern was Wilson with 18 points, three assists, and three steals. Spurgin had 10 boards on the afternoon.

The Colonels will next play in the SCAC Tournament, which will take place from Friday, February 25 through Sunday, February 27 in Jackson, Miss.