ROME, Ga.- The Colonels made the trek south for their final weekend of play before entering the Southern Athletic Association (SAA) Conference Tournament. A late rally by Berry proved effective as they downed Centre 59-48 in their second meeting of the season.
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
- The Colonels struggled in the opening frame.
Emma Rose Vincent opened the scoring, but Centre fell quite for the next seven or so minutes. Berry took advantage, trailing off with ten consecutive points.
Emma Perna eventually broke the silence at the line but a pair of following baskets from
Lilly Reid and
Arin Nipp concluded the Colonels' first quarter scoring at eight.
- Centre quickly began to chip away at the Viking's hold early in the second quarter. Vincent opened from the paint while
Anna Thomas followed from long range. Midway through the period,
Lindsay Jessie tied the game at even 21s before
Bailey Rucker stole the lead with a three. In the final second of the half, the Vikings returned the game to a tie with a buzzer-beating three.
- The Colonels opened the second half with a 9-2 scoring streak highlighted by
Makya Grinter. Now trailing by seven, Berry inched their way within one possession while at the line, forcing Centre to burn a timeout. Out of the break, a steal by Rucker turned fast break by Jessie made for a four-point play with bonus points coming at the line. The Vikings responded with a late run to return the game to a tie (39-39) entering the final frame.
- Berry opened the fourth period with an early 6-0 run, but Rucker began a rally with four consecutive points. Grinter followed suit to bring the Colonels within one but Berry, once again, stretched their hold at the line. Outscoring Centre 7-2 in the final two minutes, the Vikings downed the Colonels by a score of 59-48.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Vincent and Grinter tied for Centre's leader in points with ten apiece.
- Duggins fronted the game in blocks with two while tying for the game's lead in rebounds (6).
- Grinter led the game in steals with three.
- The Colonels just edged the Vikings out in points from the paint with 22; Berry tallied 20.
UP NEXT
Centre women's basketball will remain on the road to face SAA's Oglethorpe on Sunday, Feb. 11 at 1 p.m. ET.
