Box Score

Demorest, GA -- The Piedmont College women's basketball team would simply not be denied a victory in their season opener at home earlier today storming back from a 13-point first half deficit to claim a 76-71 win in overtime in front of a rowdy crowd in Cave Arena.  Despite trailing early and throughout much of the action, Head Coach Jamie Purdy and a veteran squad full of seniors and juniors in the starting five helped steady the ship on the way to a comeback victory in OT marking the second straight time Piedmont has claimed an overtime win in a home season opener after starting 2008-09 with a dramatic extra time 81-80 over Milsaps.

The outlook appeared bleak to start as Methodist went on a 17-4 run to open play in the afternoon contest as the Monarchs looked for their third straight win over a Great South Athletic Conference foe to start the 2011-12 season.  Though Keiondria Thompson's layup at the 13:10 mark would cut into that deficit, Methodist quickly extended it back up to 13 just 17 seconds later, a margin that would be their largest of the afternoon. 

Despite trailing by double digits and having accumulated just 11 points at the midway point of the first half, there would be no panic on the faces of those Lady Lions on the floor or the experience dotting the bench as Piedmont steadily chipped away at the Monarchs using seven first half points and nine boards to stay with the visiting team who led 34-29 at the break.

Just under four minutes into the second half as the home team continued to climb back in the ball game, the Cave Arena faithful started to make the Monarchs feel the pressure erupting when senior Shanice Wheeler drained a long three pointer to cut the MU lead down to only two points, the slimest margin since the 18:21 mark of the first half.  Methodist tried to rebuild its lead with five quick points though a field goal from Sada Wheeler and an Alyssa Jones layup kept the heat on the visiting foe keeping the Monarchs within striking distance at 45-43.

PC would tie it up twice over the next 14 minutes but could not gain the advantage until a dramatic three-pointer from sophomore Lauren Hamel with 2:10 remaining put Piedmont ahead for the first time at 61-60.  The Lady Lions continued to hold onto the lead and, with a pair of free throws from Hamel with 18 seconds to play, appeared to have to sealed the deal.

However, one Monarch had another idea as Methodist's Emily Honeycutt stepped up with a few ticks left on the scoreboard to nail a three point bucket and send the game into overtime tied at 65-65.  After spending the afternoon climbing back into the game and claiming a lead late, the Lady Lions would need another five minutes to decide a winner. 

With the fans geared up for bonus basketball, it was the senior Amber Satterfield who stole the spotlight scoring Piedmont's first six points in OT with a pair of back-to-back threes that put PC ahead for good.  Defense then took over for the Lady Lions as Sada Wheeler collected two of her seven blocks on the afternoon in the extra period while Shanice Wheeler caused a pair of turnovers including a steal with just one second remaining to close the door on visiting Methodist.

Pulling down board after board was Sada Wheeler who led the team in rebounds with 21 representing a new NCAA era program record and also topping the team in points with 18 as well on better than 61% shooting from the field.  Wheeler finished just a trio of blocks shy from her second career triple-double while her 21 rebounds breaks her own single-game mark set against Rust College in January of 2010.

With 16 points and four assists on the night, junior Alyssa Jones hit five of her field goals on the night while connecting on five of her seven tries from the charity stripe.  Jones' two late free throws with 14 seconds in overtime made the thriller a two-possession game as Piedmont was able to salt it away late.

Scoring 11 on the day was sharp shooter Amber Satterfield whose two threes in overtime propeled the Lady Lions to victory while Shanice Wheeler continued to have an effect in every facet of the game with six rebounds, ten points, four assists, and three steals including two in the final five minutes. 

With the win, the Lady Lions open 1-0 on the 2011-12 season and improve to 3-0 under Head Coach Jamie Purdy in season openers occuring in the friendly confines of Cave Arena.  Piedmont looks to keep it going when the team travels to Atlanta, GA this weekend to participate in the Oglethorpe University Classic.  The Lady Lions take on the host Stormy Petrels in a 4:00 pm game on Saturday, November 26th before facing Berry College on Sunday in a 2:00 pm game.