BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Centre women's basketball earned its first series sweep of the 2021-22 season as the Colonels defeated the Birmingham-Southern Panthers by a score of 93-89 in a wild game on Friday night. Centre gained a game on BSC, who entered tonight's game with a 1.5-game lead over the Colonels for third place in the Southern Athletic Association standings.
 
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
 
- BSC used its frantic pressing defense to force numerous Centre turnovers early in the first quarter as they jumped out to a seven-point lead. Bailey Rucker scored or assisted on seven straight points to pull Centre to within a basket to weather the storm, and the Colonels trailed 25-21 after the first period.
- In the second quarter, the Colonels continued to attack the paint after breaking the press after enjoying success late in the first quarter. Presley Chirico scored ten points in the quarter as all 17 of Centre's points came in the paint or on free throws. Still, the Panthers did just enough to hold onto a 40-38 lead going into the half.
- Consecutive buckets by Chirico put Centre on top to start the third quarter. The lead changed hands multiple times before Centre went up 52-48 on jumpers by Natalie Duggins and Taylor Garrett. Katelyn Stiltner scored seven straight points for the Colonels and Rucker connected on a three to put Centre up 64-58. BSC rallied from the free throw line to tie the game at 66-66 going into the fourth quarter.
- With the score tied at 68-68, the Colonels went on a 6-0 run on buckets by Stiltner, Chirico and Duggins early in the fourth period. They grabbed their largest lead of the game at 79-71 on a three-pointer by Piper Hensley and a runner by Payton Herold. A steal and score by Chirico made it 83-75, equaling the biggest lead before the Panthers staged a rally, nailing two threes in an 8-0 run that tied the score with just over two minutes left.
 - Tied at 83-83, the Colonels regained the lead on a layup by Chirico. The Panthers regained the lead following four consecutive free throws before Herold nailed a clutch step back jumper from the free throw line to tie it once again. Following a miss by BSC with 30 seconds left, Chirico grabbed the rebound and was fouled, connecting from the line to put Centre back up at 89-87. Another missed layup by the Panthers wound up in the arms of Duggins and Centre iced the game at the line to secure the 93-89 win.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
 
- Chirico finished with a career high 30 points to go along with nine rebounds and three steals. It is the first time a Centre player scored 30 points in a game since Abigail Stewart scored 36 against Millsaps in 2018.
- Rucker finished with 15 points and a career high seven assists. The Colonels matched their season high mark with 25 assists, set against BSC on Jan. 7.
- Duggins posted a double-double with 13 points and a career high 16 boards, helping the Colonels outrebound the Panthers by a margin of 56-41.
- Stiltner came off the bench to score 12 points, making a huge impact on the game in the third quarter.
 
NEXT UP
 
The Colonels will go for their second straight series sweep as they travel to Mississippi to take on Millsaps. Centre defeated the Majors 62-58 in Danville on Jan. 9.