Need to Know
Score: Piedmont 72, Huntingdon 67
Records: Lady Lions 3-3 (1-0 USA South), Hawks 4-4 (0-2 USA South)
Location: Montgomery, Alabama - Roland Arena

Montgomery, AL - Playing its 2015-16 USA South opener, the Piedmont College women's basketball team picked up a key basket in the waning moments to survive 72-67 against the Hawks of Huntingdon College on Sunday afternoon.  

The contest was even throughout much of the afternoon as each team had a quarter in the first two outscoring the other by five points before only a one-point separation existed between the two in the final two quarters.  

However, it was a five-point margin in overtime that confirmed the win for Piedmont on the road as the Lady Lions sealed it from the charity stripe with eight of the team's 12 points in overtime coming from the free throw line. 

Piedmont would not have been in the extra period had MARY KATE RUSHTON not knocked down a three-pointer with 13 seconds left to tie the game and force the bonus basketball in Montgomery.  Rushton's three came as part of a 22-point performance for the senior who led all scorers on the afternoon.

By virtue of the win, the Lady Lions have now won their last three USA South openers under Head Coach Jamie Purdy with their only loss in a USA South season debut coming in the team's first year in the league.  

Turning Point
--A three-pointer by MARY KATE RUSHTON in the final seconds tied the score and sent the contest into overtime where Piedmont eventually came out on top by five.

Standout Performances
--Rushton led all scorers with her 22 points on 7-of-16 shooting including her three of six mark from downtown...It's the 2nd time Rushton has led the team in scoring as she also did so back on November 20 with 20 points against Emory.
--Freshman ABBEY CRAVEN also had a nice day on the court tallying a career-high 15 points on 6-of-14 shooting.
--DAKOTA SULLENS continued to shoot the ball well hitting on six of her eight field goal attempts for 14 points while pulling down 10 rebounds for another double-double.

Inside the Box Score
--The two teams saw even periods throughout as each oustcored the other by five points in one of the first two quarters and a 20-19 score came in the 3rd and 4th for Huntingdon and Piedmont respectively.
--Yet again it was the bench of the Lady Lions that made a major difference with Piedmont reserves outscoring Huntingdon's own subs 48-17 including MARY KATE RUSHTON's 22.

News & Notes
--The double-double for Rushton and Sullens marked the second game that Piedmont had two players with a double-double as Sullens paired with BRIANNA BARRETT on November 28 against Oglethorpe to accomplish the same feat.
--That game against the Stormy Petrels on November 28 was also an overtime contest for PC.

Up Next
Piedmont will play its first home game of the season returning to the Cave for a Tuesday evening affair hosting the Battling Bishops of North Carolina Wesleyan College.  Tip-off on December 15 is set for 5:00 pm, a move of two hours from the original tip-off time of 7:00 pm. 

How to Follow
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