NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Piedmont 70, Covenant 45
Records: Piedmont, 3-3 (1-0 USA South); Covenant, 1-8 (0-1 USA South)
 
DEMOREST, Ga. – The Piedmont women's basketball team ran away from Covenant, 70-45, in its USA South opener on Friday night at Cave Arena.
 
NAKIYAH WASHINGTON (19) and HOPE FRANKLIN (16) were the lone Lady Lions (3-3, 1-0 USA South) in double figures. Washington added six rebounds and a pair of steals while Franklin led the team with seven rebounds and added four steals.
 
The Scots (1-8, 0-1 USA South) led by five after the opening quarter. However, Piedmont won the second and third quarters by a margin of 46-17 and the outcome was never in doubt in the final period.
 
Covenant used a 9-3 run over the final four minutes of the first quarter to take a 16-11 lead heading to the second. 
 
That five-point deficit was the largest PC faced all night as the Lady Lions took the lead midway through the quarter and never looked back. Washington scored 14 of her 19 points in the first half to help Piedmont to an eight-point edge at the break.
 
The third quarter was more of the same as the Lady Lions quickly extended their lead to double digits early in the period. The dominant run continued throughout the rest of the quarter with Piedmont taking a 57-33 lead to the final period.
 
PC led comfortably the entirety of the fourth quarter as freshman COURTNEY CATES scored her first point as a Lady Lion, knocking down a late free throw.
 
Sophomore COLBY REED knocked down a pair of three-pointers in the second half to add six points off the bench.
 
Overall, 16 Lady Lions played in the contest with 11 different scorers.
 
Up next, the Lady Lions will host the Scots once again tomorrow at 2 p.m. inside Cave Arena.
 
TURNING POINT:        
- Piedmont outscored Covenant, 46-17, over the second and third quarters to take complete control.
 
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
- NAKIYAH WASHINGTON was once again dominant against Covenant, leading all scorers with 19 points to go with six rebounds,
- In just 18 minutes off the bench, HOPE FRANKLIN produced 16 points to go with seven rebounds and four steals.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
- Piedmont's full-court press helped it turn defense into offense as the team forced 36 Covenant turnovers and converted them into 39 points.
 
HOW TO FOLLOW:
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