NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Piedmont 61, Maryville 48
Records: Piedmont, 20-5 (14-2 USA South); Maryville, 12-13 (10-6 USA South)
 
MARYVILLE, Tenn. – The Piedmont College women's basketball team closed out its regular season strong with a 61-48 victory at Maryville on Saturday afternoon.
 
After the Lady Lions (20-5, 14-2 USA South) trailed, 48-45, with 1:44 left in the third quarter, Maryville (12-13, 10-6 USA South) was held scoreless the rest of the way, as Piedmont used its stifling defense to secure at least a second-place finish in the USA South West Division.
 
AMARI PRICE was outstanding once again for Piedmont, scoring a game-high 20 points to go with five assists and four rebounds. She was joined in double figures by ASHLYN ELLISON, who added 12 points and six rebounds. RACHEL IRBY tallied 11 points and also added six rebounds.
 
The Lady Lions jumped out to an early lead in the first quarter, scoring the first seven points of the game and holding the Scots off the scoreboard for almost three minutes. However, Maryville rallied at the end of the period, outscoring PC, 8-2, in the final 3:27 to cut its deficit to just two points heading into the second.
 
The Scots used a 7-0 run early in the second quarter to take their first lead of the contest at 20-18. Maryville led by as many as five points late in the half before Ellison's layup with 52 seconds left gave the Scots a 32-29 edge at the break.
 
The third quarter was tightly contested, but PC was able to retake the lead at 42-40 on an Ellison layup midway through the period. Maryville responded with an 8-3 run to take a 48-45 lead after a pair of made free throws. From that point on, the Scots were held scoreless the rest of the way as PC took the lead for good on Irby's layup with 45 seconds left in the third.
 
The Lady Lions ramped up the defensive intensity in the fourth, holding Maryville off the scoreboard completely and running away with the 13-point victory. 
 
Up next, the Lady Lions will host a USA South East Division opponent next Saturday at Cave Arena at 2 p.m. in the USA South Championship Tournament Quarterfinals.
 
TURNING POINT:
- After a pair of Piedmont fouls and a technical foul, Maryville held a 48-45 edge late in the third quarter. From that point on, the Lady Lions held the Scots completely scoreless for the final 11:44 of game action.
 
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
- AMARI PRICE closed out her superb regular season with another memorable performance, scoring 20 points to go with five assists and four rebounds.
- ASHLYN ELLISON returned to the lineup from an injury and scored 12 points while pulling in six rebounds.
- RACHEL IRBY had 11 points and also added six boards.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
- The Lady Lions held the Scots scoreless for the entire fourth quarter. It marks the first time all season that PC has held a team scoreless over an entire period.
- Piedmont outscored Maryville, 44-10, in the paint.
 
NEWS AND NOTES:
- Piedmont has now reached 20 wins for the fourth consecutive season. This marks the first time in the NCAA era that the program has won 20 games at least four season in a row.
 
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.