LaGrange, GA - The Piedmont College women's basketball team (3-0) was dominant in a 107-76 win over Oglethorpe University (4-2) earlier today in a neutral site contest between the two out-of-conference, in-state foes. 

The game was the first of two for PC in the USA South / SAA Classic hosted by their fellow USA South member institution, LaGrange College, as the Lady Lions will play Berry College tomorrow afternoon in Mariotti Gym on LaGrange's campus with tip off set for 2:00 pm like today.

Piedmont saw all five starters in double figures led by junior MARY KATE RUSHTON's 25 on five-of-nine shooting including a four-of-six mark from beyond the three-point line.  Rushton was also 11 of 16 at the charity stripe, a spot where Piedmont was 46 times on the afternoon. 

Fellow starters TAYLOR SWOSZOWSKI and LE'SHAUNDA JONES each chipped in 13 points as Swoszowski was a perfect 6 of 6 from the field connecting on her only try from distance.  Piedmont shot an even 50% from the field as a team with OU hitting on just over 43%.  The biggest difference in the contest came at the free throw line where PC hit on 12 more tries than the Stormy Petrels.

The game was close in the first half as Piedmont only held a 3-point lead (31-28) with five minutes to go in the opening period.  However, it was a Rushton three, one of four on the day for the veteran, that helped spark an 8-0 run helping Piedmont to get to the half with the lead, 41-34. 

Coming out for the second half, Piedmont opened up with a 7-0 run to start the action.  OU's best chance to overtake the Lady Lions came though from the 18 minute mark to the 16 minute mark when the Stormy Petrels hit on three point field goals on back-to-back-to-back possessions.

However, each time Oglethorpe connected from distance, it was LE'SHAUNDA JONES who had the answer as she scored six of her 13 points during the same push from OU.  Breaking open nearly a 20-point lead nearing the midway mark of the half after six straight points from Rushton, it was all Piedmont from that point on as the Lady Lions held a 25-point lead under five minutes to play. 

OU never trailed by less than ten after the 12-0 run by PC at the midway point of the second half as Piedmont went on to win by 31, its largest win in the series since a 23-point win in 2010.  Piedmont's last two wins over OU both came by five points or less.

Piedmont will continue play in the tournament hosted by LaGrange College tomorrow with another matchup against a Southern Athletic Association member institution, Berry College.  Tip off in the November 30 contest is set for 2:00 pm.  Live stats coverage will be provided courtesy of the Office of Sports Information at LaGrange College.