NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Piedmont 73, Berea 47
Records: Piedmont, 14-3 (8-0 USA South); Berea, 10-4 (6-1 USA South)
 
The Piedmont College women's basketball team cruised past Berea, 73-47, in a battle of USA South undefeated teams on Saturday afternoon at Cave Arena.
 
The Lady Lions (14-3, 8-0 USA South) used an 18-2 run overlapping the end of the first and beginning of the second quarter to build a sizeable lead from which Berea (10-4, 6-1 USA South) was unable to recover.
 
JATASIA BAILEY and KELLY ACKERMAN led the way with 17 points each while ABBEY CRAVEN matched her career high, scoring 10 points for the second straight game.BRITTANY WALKER added her second double-double of the season, scoring 10 points and securing 11 rebounds in 24 minutes.
 
Piedmont relied on an outstanding defensive first quarter to create a 10-point edge heading to the second period.
 
PC built its lead to 38-12 late in the first half before a 10-0 Mountaineers run closed the half and cut their deficit to 38-22. The Lady Lions forced 10 first-half turnovers and only committed five.
 
The Mountaineers continued their momentum into the second half, cutting their deficit briefly to single digits. However, the Lady Lions responded with a 7-0 run to take a 17-point lead and never looked back.
 
Piedmont extended its advantage even more throughout the fourth quarter, cruising to an easy victory and ascending to first place by themselves in the USA South West Division.
 
The Lady Lions are back in action at home tomorrow, hosting Brevard at 1 p.m.
 
TURNING POINT
- The Lady Lions used an 18-2 run in the first and second quarter and built an insurmountable lead before halftime.
 
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
- Piedmont used a balanced scoring attack on Saturday, with four players scoring in double figures. JATASIA BAILEY and KELLY ACKERMAN each had 17, while BRITTANY WALKER and ABBEY CRAVEN added 10 each, with Walker grabbing a team-best 13 rebounds.
- Despite a lower scoring output, AMARI PRICE still made an impact, scoring eight points to go with seven assists and nine rebounds.
 
 NEWS AND NOTES:
- Piedmont is off to its first 8-0 start to conference play since starting 13-0 in 2015-16
- AMARI PRICE needs just 12 assists to break Lori Vaughan's PC season record of 126, set in 2004-05.
 
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.