JACKSON, Miss.- Centre women's basketball traveled to Mississippi to face Southern Athletic Association's (SAA) Berry for the second round of the conference tournament. After a hasty start, the Colonels outscored the Vikings 66-43 to advance to the SAA Championship game.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Berry opened the game's scoring but quickly fell silent. A quad of free-throws from Emma Rose Vincent and Bailey Rucker opened an 11-point scoring run for the Colonels with notable baskets from Makya Grinter and Rucker. After nearly a quarter-long drought, the Vikings tallied their second bucket but was bettered with successive baskets from Arin Nipp and Lilly Reid to close the frame.
- Opening the next period, Berry cut Centre's lead to single digits with a 7-2 run to start. Vincent and Grinter found success in the paint, assisting the Colonels' eight-point edge heading into halftime.
- Centre's Anna Thomas commenced the second half with a deep-three to return the deficit to double digits. The Colonels continued to pull away with a 9-2 run, featuring another long ball from Thomas. Outscoring Berry 21-10 in the third period, Centre held a 19-point edge heading to the final frame.
- The fourth quarter started at a slower pace, neither team scoring more than three points until the six-minute mark. For much of the period, most points came at the charity line, including every point for Centre. Going 22-30 at the line, the Colonels clinched the win to eliminated Berry and advance to the championship game.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Vincent, Rucker, and Grinter tied for the game's leader in points with 13 apiece. Reid followed closely with 11 points.
- Vincent led the game in assists with three.
- Rucker tied for the game's lead in steals with three; The junior led the court in steals, also with three.
- The Colonels dominated in transition. They outperformed Berry in steals, fast break points, and points off turnovers.
- On defense, Centre favored in both blocks and rebounds.
- The Gold & White's largest lead was 23 points. Centre possessed the lead 92% of the game.
NEXT UP
Centre women's basketball will advance to the SAA Championship game on Sunday, Feb. 25th at 3 p.m. ET. They face the No.1 seeded Millsaps.
