BIRMINGHAM, Ala.—The top-seeded Birmingham-Southern women's basketball team opened the 2016 postseason with a victory Friday afternoon in the quarterfinals of the Southern Athletic Association Championship, defeating eighth-seeded Berry, 76-68, in Bill Battle Coliseum.

The Panthers march on with a 22-3 record on the season. The loss drops Berry's record to 8-18.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Junior Jasmynn Batts went 2-3 from beyond the arc and hit on all four free throw attempts in the first quarter to lead all scorers.
• A three-pointer from freshman Christian McGowan with 2:19 left in the second quarter gave BSC their largest lead of the game at 16, 38-22.
• Berry would cut the BSC lead to seven three times in the opening minutes of the third quarter, but would never get closer in the quarter.
• Down 15 with six minutes remaining in the game, Berry fought back to make it a four-point game with 2:33 remaining at 68-64.
• Seniors Halle Knowles and Ashley Curry combined to score the final eight points for the Panthers and put the game away, combining to go 6-8 from the line in the final 2:33.

NOTABLE

• Earlier in the day senior Yorisha Bryant was selected SAA Newcomer of the Year and head coach Mike Ricks was voted SAA Coach of the Year.
• BSC managed to earn the win despite being outrebounded, 41-30, and outscored in the paint, 30-20.
• BSC shot 40 free throws, its second-highest total of the season.
• Batts led all scorers with 25 points, while Bryant led all players with 11 boards.
• After the game, the Panthers were presented with their trophy for winning a share of the 2016 SAA regular season title.

UP NEXT

• The Panthers will square off against the fifth-seeded Oglethorpe Stormy Petrels in the SAA Championship semifinals tomorrow at 1 p.m. in Bill Battle Coliseum.