Box Score  |  Season Stats

Demorest, GA - The Lady Lions dropped a heartbreaker to arch-rivals Maryville College on Saturday afternoon, scoring just 22 first half points and 19 in the second half in a 45-41 loss to the Lady Scots.  Sada Wheeler led the No. 22 Lady Lions with 19 points, 17 rebounds and six blocked shots as they fell to 13-3 and were defeated for the second straight game and third time in the last four contests.

Piedmont faced a reluctant Maryville defense, shooting just 29-percent for the game from the floor.  However, the Lady Lions' defense kept pace, holding the Lady Scots to just seven field goals in the first half and no trips to the charity stripe.  The first half saw Wheeler make 13 of the team's 22 points.  The game remained tight from the tip-off, and with 1:12 remaining before halftime, sophomore Lauren Hamel's bucket gave the women a six-point lead.  Wheeler converted a free throw before the half to go into the locker room up seven.

Junior Keiondria Thompson opened up the second half with a triple to push the lead to a game-high 10 points, but Maryville answered right back with a three of its own to keep pace.  Midway through the half, the rivals went on a 17-1 rampage to take a 40-31 lead.  Maryville held the home team to no made field goals for a seven and half minute span during the decisive run. 

Seniors Shanice Wheeler and Amber Satterfield hit a jumper and 3-pointer, respectively, to make it a four-point game with 6:07 to go.  Satterfield hit her second rainbow three to highlight the 10-1 run, pulling Piedmont within two points of the lead with under three minutes on the clock.  Thompson's jumper with 2:06 remaining tied the game at 41.  The rivals each had a shot to take the lead over the next one minute and 20 seconds, but came up empty until the Lady Scots hit a clutch jumper with 49 seconds left lifted the visitors on top.

The Lady Lions tried a potential go-ahead tri-fecta, but SADA WHEELER rebounded the try and missed a putback attempt in the lane, giving Maryville the ball with seven ticks on the clock.  Wheeler fouled to send the rivals to the line and force them to win it on free throws.  Lauren Burnett calmly sunk both freebies to ice the game, as the Lady Lions' inbound pass was thrown long and left no time for a shot.

Piedmont dips to 5-2 in Great South Athletic Conference play and 13-3 overall.  Thompson finished with eight points, while Satterfield and SHANICE WHEELER had six each in the loss. The Lady Lions return to action at Covenant College in a GSAC matchup on Wednesday.  Tip-off is set for 5:00 pm.