ROME, Ga. – Centre women's basketball continued their weekend stent in Georgia, taking on Berry College Sunday. After defeating the Vikings by a score of 48-42, the Colonels sit in first place in the Southern Athletic Association (SAA). 
  
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
- The Vikings initiated the games scoring, putting up eight to Colonel's two mid-way through the first quarter. After a slow start for Centre, Berry held a 11-point lead entering the second period of play.
-  A minute and a half into the quarter, the Vikings had already drained a basket and forced a turnover causing Centre to utilize a time-out. The break deemed effective as Bailey Rucker hit a jumper moments before Payton Herold bucketed a three. Berry, in turn, called their own time-out to diffuse the Colonel's momentum. 
- Late into the quarter, Madison Tremblay hit a long-range jumper to bring the Colonels within 8. With seconds remaining, Makya Grinter would close the quarter with a steal turned buzzer beater lay-up to set the halftime score at Berry 27, Centre 21. 
- To open the third quarter, Rucker and Emma Rose Vincent placed back-to-back buckets that initiated a 9-2 score run for the Colonels. With the control now in the Colonel's hands, Anna Thomas would find herself at the line. The sophomore would sink both free-throws to give Centre their first lead of the game. The Vikings would eventually regain their control, going on a 6-0 run to close the quarter. 
-  Centre started the fourth quarter with a 10-0 run of their own, taking their largest lead yet. Rucker and Vincent bucketed two successive field goals just before Piper Hensley drained a wide-open three in the next possession. 
- With 47 seconds remaining in the contest, both teams would burn a timeout as the score sat at Centre 45, Berry 42. A jump ball would keep the possession with Centre and the Vikings were forced to foul, putting Herold on the line. Making one of her baskets, the Colonels would have a comfortable four-point lead with 14 seconds remaing. Grinter would be the next Colonel at the line. Netting both of her free-throws, she would solidify the score at Centre 48, Berry 42. 
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
 - Herold and Rucker nearly matched one another in statistics. Both were in the double digits in points with 11, adding two assists and five rebounds each.
- Natalie Duggins was again the leading rebounder for the Colonels. The junior finished with eight rebounds, supplementing with three points and a steal.
- After going 13-20, Centre shot 65 percent from the line compared to Berry's 17 percent. 
- The Colonels out rebounded the Vikings 48-35. 
 
UP NEXT
The Colonels will hit the road to take on SAA's Millsaps College. They tip-off against the Majors on Friday, January 20th, at 7 p.m. ET.