BIRMINGHAM, Ala.- Centre women's basketball opened 2024 with their 11th win of the season. Facing Southern Athletic Association's (SAA) Birmingham Southern (BSC), the Colonels' second half scoring solidified a 74-55 win over their conference foe, improving to 2-0 in the league.
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
- Early baskets from Makya Grinter and Bailey Rucker gave Centre an early 7-2 edge. Just after, BSC struck hot, placing nine consecutive points that assisted to a double-digit lead entering quarter two.
- Continuing to highlight Centre's first half scoring, Grinter and Rucker quickly cut the deficit to four after the duo opened with a 10-2 scoring streak. Katelyn Stiltner later tied the game with a pair of baskets at the line. Holding the Panthers to just eight points in the second quarter, the Colonels possessed a 5-point edge entering halftime.
- Centre launched the second half's scoring but were quickly matched by the Panthers. After trading baskets for much of the period, a late basket from Anna Thomas paired with a buzzer-beating floater from Grinter gave the Colonels a 10-point edge entering the final period.
- The Gold & White opened the fourth period by further stretching their hold with a 7-2 run. The Colonels kept pulling away with notable buckets from Lilly Reid and Emma Rose Vincent. Rookie Arin Nipp closed the game with an easy lay-up that moved the final to 74-55, Centre favoring.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Rucker led the court in points with 22, adding eight rebounds and four assists. Grinter followed closely behind with 16, simultaneously leading the game in assists with eight.
- Natalie Duggins was the only athlete to put together a double-double. The senior tallied both ten points and ten rebounds.
- Centre shot 81% from the charity line while the Panthers shot 63%.
- The game found three different lead changes.
- Coincidentally to their last contest, also versus the Panthers (Greenville), the Colonels dominated in rebounds, taking 42 to the Panther's 27.
UP NEXT
Centre will continue with their conference tour, next traveling to Mississippi. They'll take on SAA's Millsaps on Sunday, Jan. 7th, at 1 p.m. ET.
