NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Oglethorpe 81, Piedmont 72
Records: Stormy Petrels, 5-1; Lady Lions, 4-2
 
LAGRANGE, Ga. – The Piedmont women's basketball team opened the USA South/SAA Classic with an 81-72 loss to Oglethorpe University on Saturday afternoon. 

The Lady Lions (4-2) opened the game with an 8-3 run before the Stormy Petrels (5-1) used a 9-0 run to pull ahead 12-8. 

Piedmont would answer with shots from RACHEL IRBY and KELLY ACKERMAN to take a one-point lead but Oglethorpe closed the first quarter with a 10-2 run to lead 22-15 after the first 10 minutes. 

Oglethorpe opened the second quarter with six straight points and would extend its lead to 17 points with 51 seconds left. Piedmont would trail 48-33 at the half.

Ackerman led Piedmont with a career-high 24 points while going 6-of-9 from the 3-point arc. HOPE FRANKLIN recorded her third double-double of the season with 10 points and 12 rebounds while AMARI PRICE scored 16 points to go along with six assists. 

The Lady Lions would outscore Oglethorpe 18-17 in the third quarter and 21-16 in the fourth, but the first-half deficit would be to large to overcome. 

A Price free throw in the fourth quarter cut the lead to eight with just over six minutes remaining, but Oglethorpe used another big run to go back up by 16.

Piedmont clawed back and trailed by seven with 10 seconds left off an Ackerman 3-pointer, but time ran out on Piedmont as the Stormy Petrels hit a pair of free throws in the final seconds. 

 
TURNING POINT:
- Leading by one point in the first quarter, Oglethorpe closed the first with a 10-2 run to 
 
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
- Ackerman scored a career-high with 24 points while Franklin registered her third double-double of the season. 
 
UP NEXT:
- Piedmont will resume the USA South/SAA Classic on Sunday for a 12 p.m. tip-off against Berry. 
 
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, and Facebook. To follow each Piedmont athletic program on social media, use the Social Media Directory at PiedmontLions.com or click here.