Need to Know
Score: Piedmont 78, Covenant 44
Records: Lions 17-4 (12-0 USA South), Scots 7-13 (4-8 USA South)
Location: Demorest, Georgia - Cave Arena

Demorest, GA - The Piedmont College women's basketball team extended its longest winning streak since the 2010-11 team won 12 in a row to start the year earning a national ranking as the Lady Lions defeated Covenant College 78-44 earlier Wednesday evening in the Cave.

The Scots kept it close in the early going trailing by just three after the first quarter though Piedmont was able to build a seven-point lead going into the half courtesy of an 8-2 run in the final 4:07 of the period.  Senior SYMONE BALL sparked the run scoring six of the team's eight points in the stretch before finishing the night with a team-high 12 points.

With the momentum headed into the locker room, the Lady Lions kept it rolling coming out from the break dominating the Scots in the 3rd quarter to the tune of a 21-5 period holding Covenant to just two field goals in the 3rd.  The Lady Lion defense earns the credit for the suffocating run as they forced six turnovers in the quarter and also held a 10-5 rebounding edge as well. 

Piedmont shot better than 53% from the field in the 3rd including an even 50% from three-point land to distance themselves from the visitors. From that point on, it was academic as Piedmont cruised to the 34-point win in front of its hometown crowd putting their record to a perfect 9-0 at home while the team also stays undefeated in league play at now 12-0. 

PC is just three wins away from its fifth 20-win season under Head Coach Jamie Purdy though the race in the USA South stays tight with Maryville at 10-1 behind Piedmont at the top and still a meeting to come between the Scots and PC.  

Turning Point
--Piedmont's dominating 3rd quarter that saw the Lady Lions outscore Covenant 21-5 allowing just two field goals to the Scots and forcing six turnovers while committing just one of their own.

Standout Performances
--SYMONE BALL hit on 6-of-8 from the floor with her only two misfires coming from beyond the three-point arc as the senior totaled a dozen points and four rebounds. 
--Aleigha Williams scored 16 points for the visiting Scots as the only Covenant player in double-figures. 

Inside the Box Score
--The Lady Lions shot over 46% from the field but were lights out in the 3rd shooting 7-of-13 from the floor for a 53% mark in the quarter.  
--Piedmont has shot better than 43% from the floor in seven of its last eight games including a season-best 58% in a record-setting 100-point win over Mary Baldwin to end January.

News & Notes
--Piedmont stretches its current win streak now to 13 in a row tying the second-longest winning streak in the program's NCAA Era (since 2003-04 season) as the 2004-05 team also won 13 in a row. 
--The Lady Lions could put in the longest winning streak if they come away with a pair of wins this weekend as Jamie Purdy's 2007-08 team won 14 straight to end the regular season and win the GSAC Championship Tournament. 

Up Next
Piedmont hits the road for a two-game road trip in Carolina facing Methodist on Saturday, February 13 before taking on Greensboro for a Valentine's Day date the following afternoon.  Tip-off on Saturday in Fayetteville is set for 2:00 pm while the tip-off in Greensboro on Sunday is a 1:00 pm start. 

How to Follow
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