NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Piedmont 74, Berea 67
Records: Piedmont, 23-5; Berea, 22-6
 
DEMOREST, Ga. – The Piedmont College women's basketball team held off Berea, 74-67, on Sunday afternoon in the USA South Championship Tournament Final at Cave Arena.
 
The Lady Lions (23-5) took the lead on AMARI PRICE's buzzer-beating three-pointer at the end of the first quarter and led the rest of the way, staving off multiple Berea (22-6) rallies in the second half.
 
Price was named Tournament MVP after scoring 16 points to go with six rebounds. KELLY ACKERMAN added 15 points on 5-of-6 from the free throw line and HOPE FRANKLIN scored nine points, grabbed a team-high nine rebounds and knocked down 7-of-8 free throws.
 
Berea jumped out to an 8-2 lead after the first four minutes, but the Lady Lions bounced back quickly with a 6-0 run to tie the game at 8-all. The Mountaineers went back in front for most of the quarter, until Price beat the buzzer with a three-pointer for the second straight day.
 
Piedmont led the entire second quarter and by as many as six points. However, Price picked up her second foul early in the period and was forced to sit for the final seven minutes of the half. Berea corralled 12 offensive rebounds in the first half and trailed by only three at the break.
 
The Lady Lions opened the second half on a 6-0 scoring run to take a 34-25 lead. After PC took a game-high 11-point lead midway through the third quarter, the Mountaineers ended the period on a 13-4 run to cut Piedmont's lead to two points heading into the final 10 minutes.
 
Price opened the fourth-quarter scoring with a corner three to put the Lady Lions back up by five. Berea cut the PC lead to 53-51 early in the fourth, but that was as close as the margin would be the rest of the way, as the Lady Lions converted on 15-of-22 free throw attempts in the final quarter to seal the victory.
 
Up next, the Lady Lions will await their NCAA Tournament destination. The selection show can be seen on NCAA.com on Monday at 2:30 p.m.
 
TURNING POINT:
- With the Lady Lions struggling on offense and trailing, 16-15, in the final seconds of the first quarter, AMARI PRICE hit nothing but net on a step-back three-pointer to give PC the lead it held the rest of the way.
 
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
- Price was named Tournament MVP after another solid performance, scoring 16 points and adding six rebounds.
- HOPE FRANKLIN delivered nine points and nine rebounds, while also tying her career high of four blocks for the second straight game.
- KELLY ACKERMAN scored in double figures for the second consecutive contest, adding 15 points, including 5-of-6 from the foul line.
 
NEWS AND NOTES:
- In winning three straight USA South Championship Tournaments, the Lady Lions become just the third program in the USA South to accomplish the feat.
- The Lady Lions become the first program at Piedmont to capture a conference championship on campus.
- It also marks the second straight season in which the Lady Lions have defeated Berea to win the conference title after splitting the two regular season matchups.
- In addition to Price being named Tournament MVP, HOPE FRANKLIN and KELLY ACKERMAN were named to the All-Tournament Team.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
- Piedmont made 32-of-42 from the free throw line, both season highs.
- After allowing the Mountaineers to grab 12 offensive rebounds in the first half, Piedmont held them to just four in the second half.
 
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.