NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Piedmont 59, No. 25 William Peace 49
Records: Piedmont, 19-8; No. 25 William Peace, 23-4
 
BEREA, Ky. – The Piedmont women's basketball team used a fourth quarter rally to advance past No. 25 William Peace, 59-49, in the USA South Tournament Semifinals on Saturday afternoon in Berea, Kentucky.
 
Senior guard AMARI PRICE scored seven points to give her 1,231 for her career which is now tops in program history.
 
With the win, the Lady Lions will play Berea tomorrow at 3 p.m. for a chance to win their fourth consecutive USA South Tournament title.
 
Once again, freshman forward NAKIYAH WASHINGTON led the way for Piedmont, tying her season high with 25 points to go with nine rebounds. Price was held to just seven points but tied her career high with 14 rebounds in the win. KYLA MICHIENZI chipped in 13 points off the bench with most of her damage coming in the second half.
 
PC raced out to a quick start by scoring the first eight points of the contest. However, the Pacers quickly responded with an 11-1 run to take an 11-9 lead with three minutes left in the first quarter.
 
With Piedmont leading by a single point after the first 10 minutes, the second quarter went back-and-forth as both teams struggled on the offensive end. The Lady Lions led 27-23 late in the first half but William Peace scored four straight points in the final minute of the second to knot things up at 27-all at the break.
 
The bulk of the third quarter belonged to the Pacers, who led by as many as seven points late in the period. PC was able to score the final five points of the quarter as Washington's layup cut the deficit to 39-38 heading into the final 10.
 
Michienzi's three-pointer early in the fourth opened up the scoring and the Lady Lions never trailed the rest of the way as they outscored the Pacers, 21-10, in the period and held them to just two points over the final five minutes of the contest.
 
Up next, the Lady Lions will take on Berea on its home court tomorrow at 3 p.m.
 
TURNING POINT:
- Trailing 38-31 late in the third quarter, Piedmont closed the game on a 28-11 run. In their two USA South Tournament wins, the Lady Lions have outscored their opponents a combined 46-20 in the final quarter.
 
PRICE SETS SCORING RECORD:
- With seven points, Price now has the career scoring mark in Piedmont's NCAA Era (since 2003-4) with 1,231. The previous holder was Nikki Sosebee, who finished with 1,228.
- Price now has the Piedmont career records for assists and points.
 
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
- Washington matched her career high of 25 points, shooting 10-of-19 from the floor and knocking down two three-pointers.
- Michienzi was the only other Lady Lion in double figures, scoring 13 points in 18 minutes off the bench.
- Price matched her career high, pulling down 14 rebounds while adding six assists.
 
NEWS AND NOTES:
- This will mark the third consecutive season in which Piedmont and Berea have met with the USA South Tournament Title on the line. The Lady Lions defeated the Mountaineers, 69-63, in Greensboro in 2018 before clinching the championship in Demorest last season, 74-67.
 
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.