SEWANEE, Tenn. – Centre women's basketball opened the Southern Athletic Association schedule with a statement win Saturday at Sewanee, winning by a 67-49 score inside Juhan Gymnasium.
 
Presley Chirico totaled a career-high 25 points to lead the Colonels, who improved to 3-3 overall and 1-0 in the SAA. The host Tigers fall to 3-6 overall with an 0-1 start in league play.
 
HIGHLIGHTS
- Both sides experienced some offensive struggles in the opening quarter, but a six early points from Chirico helped Centre take a 13-8 lead into the second. The Colonels – who kept their hosts without a point for one five-minute stretch – held Sewanee to just 4 of 17 overall from the floor.
- Centre hit its first three buckets of the second quarter and used an 8-2 run to take its first double figure advantage of the afternoon at 21-10.
- Chirico continued her tear and capped a 19-point first half with a 3-pointer in the closing seconds, giving the Colonels a sizeable 33-17 lead at the break.
- After going 0-for-13 from 3-point range in the first half, the Tigers got two early triples from Kinsley Logan in the third quarter to force a Centre timeout.
- The Colonels responded well, finishing the period on a 13-6 stretch that gave them a commanding 50-31 lead with 10 minutes remaining.
- Chirico hit a turnaround jumper near the start of the final period to give her 25 points and officially surpass her previous career high.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- A senior from Staffordsville, Ky., Chirico connected on 9 of 18 shots and all six free throws. She also led Centre with seven rebounds.
- Bailey Rucker (11) and Payton Herold (10) each finished in double figures, as well, and co-led the squad with two steals apiece.
- Rachel Jennings had a team-high five assists.
- As a team, the Colonels went 19-for-21 (91%) at the charity stripe.
- From the floor, Centre hit 22 of 49 (45%) while holding Sewanee to just 19 of 56 (34%). The Tigers went a mere 3-for-25 (12%) from 3-point range.
 
UP NEXT
Centre travels to take on Maryville next Wednesday, Dec. 15, at 6 p.m. in a rematch. The Scots defeated the Colonels 62-53 back on Nov. 20 in Alumni Gym.