BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Junior forward
Montana Harris recorded a career-high 25 points, but the Birmingham-Southern women's basketball team let the game slip away after halftime against conference rival Berry.
Needing a bounce-back win, BSC's
Montana Harris was determined to pull her team over the finish line. She scored nine of the team's first 11 points including a three-pointer to tie the game at 11 with 3:52 remaining in the first quarter. She then went on to score the next two baskets for 'Southern to score 13 total points inside the opening 10 minutes of conference play. The Vikings took a 16-15 lead at the conclusion of the first period, but the Panthers were right there in the fight.
Berry remained in the lead throughout the second quarter, but their lead never stretched further than five points. BSC continued to push, and
Maya Cable eventually drained a game-tying three to make the score 30-30 with 1:45 left in the half. Two late free throws gave the Vikings a 32-30 lead at the break, but 'Southern once again remained very much in the game.
After four more points from
Montana Harris,
Maya Cable knocked down another big three to give the Panthers their first lead since 6:01 remaining in the first quarter. The Vikings then went on an 8-1 run in almost three minutes to take their largest lead of the night, 44-38. Berry continued to slowly build their lead and went up by as many as eleven points, but two late
Ajailah Ogiemwonyi free throws cut the deficit back to single digits at the end of the period.
The Panthers got off to a promising start in the fourth with
Montana Harris scoring the team's first four points once again, but BSC went on to from the field. 'Southern couldn't quite get the shots to fall offensively to mount a comeback, and the Vikings took complete control with a 16-4 run in the final nine minutes of the game. The visitors went on to win the SAA contest on the night.
Final Score: Berry 69-52 BSC
Records
Birmingham-Southern (4-16) (1-8 SAA), Berry (12-7) (6-2 SAA).
Up Next
Birmingham-Southern will be back at home on Sunday, Jan. 28th at 1:00 p.m. against Oglethorpe.
