Need to Know
Score: Piedmont 68 , Ferrum 60
Records: Lions 6-3, Panthers 4-5
Location: Danville, Virginia - E. Stuart James Grant Center

Danville, VA - In their second of three road games over a four-day period, the Piedmont College women's basketball team held off a late rally from the Panthers of Ferrum College to take a 68-60 win earlier Sunday afternoon to open the Averett East-West Classic.

In what would turn out to be a rather low-scoring first half, the Lady Lions took their first lead of the game with a 3-pointer from BRIDGETTE KELLY just over the midway point in the 1st quarter which made it 6-5 PC. 

Zarkia Mattox, Ferrum's D3Hoops.com National Team of the Week performer, led the way for the Panthers scoring ten of the team's 14 1st quarter points and assisting on the team's only other made field goal.  

However, Mattox and the rest of the Panthers' offense would be quieted in the 2nd quarter by the Piedmont defense which limited Ferrum to just four points in the period with only one made field goal giving PC a 12-point halftime lead, 30-18.  

Ferrum kept pace in the 3rd though Piedmont still held the distance taking a 13-point lead into the 4th.  The Panthers then rallied in the final period trimming a 16-point lead by PC with just under seven minutes to play down to just four with 54 seconds to play after a Mattox jumper made it 64-60 with Piedmont still in front.

Needing an answer with the shotclock winding down, junior Carlie Shields stepped up to drain a 3-pointer from the left side as the buzzer went off sealing the win by making it a 7-point game with only 23 seconds left before PC went on to the 68-60 victory.

Turning Point
--Piedmont's defensive stand in the 2nd quarter that saw Ferrum score only four total points with the Panthers limited to 1-of-11 shooting from the field in the period.  

Standout Performances
--CARLIE SHIELDS collected nine assists to go with her seven points including a late three-pointer that sealed the win for PC.
--Ferrum's Zarkia Mattox scored a game-high 30 points on 11-of-19 shooting from the field picking up a double-double with 11 rebounds. 

Inside the Box Score
--This contest featured contrasting styles as Ferrum outscored PC in the paint 28-14, but Piedmont connected on more 3-pointers (14) than Ferrum attempted (13).
 
News & Notes
--Though coming against conference competition, this game was part of the Averett East-West Classic and does not count towards conference play.
--After Ferrum took seven straight in the series from 2009 to 2015 between these two, Piedmont has now won the last three match-ups including last season's postseason showdown in the USA South Semifinals. 

Up Next
--The third of three road games in a four-day period as Piedmont takes on the host Cougars of Averett University on Monday, December 19 at 3:00 pm.  Live stats and video will be available for fans to track the Lady Lions. 

How to Follow
To stay up to date on all information regarding Piedmont College Athletics, be sure to visit PiedmontLions.com and connect with the Green and Gold on social media. Follow the Lions on Twitter: @PiedmontLions, Instagram: @PiedmontLions, Snapchat: @PiedmontLions and Facebook. To follow each Piedmont athletic program on social media, use the Social Media Directory at PiedmontLions.com or click here.