NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Piedmont 85, Averett 65
Records: Piedmont, 3-0; Averett 0-3

DEMOREST, Ga. - Behind a balanced scoring attack and 11 made three-pointers, the Piedmont women's basketball team ran away from Averett, 85-65, on Friday night at Cave Arena.

Piedmont relied on a balanced scoring attack with four players in double figures. Graduate transfer KLAIRE VARNEY led the Lady Lions for the third straight game to start the season, scoring 18 points to go with four rebounds, three steals and a team-high four three-pointers. LIVIA SKINNER added 15 points to go with seven assists and made three from downtown.



The Lady Lions were on fire from beyond the arc Friday. The team's 11 three-pointers marks the first time they have made at least that number since Nov. 24, 2018 against Oglethorpe. Five different Lady Lions contributed with Skinner, Varney, LU WOOLFOLK, NAE-NAE EADES and LAKEN STILES connecting from deep.

Unlike its first two wins, Piedmont did not have to overcome a large deficit Friday night, ending the first quarter on a 7-0 run to take a 24-18 lead to the second.

The Cougars hung tough in the second, as the Lady Lions only increased their lead to seven heading to the break. Piedmont was 6-of-10 from beyond the arc over the first 20 minutes of action.

The third quarter allowed the Piedmont defense to shine. Averett went just 4-of-19 from the field coming out of the locker room and the Lady Lions stretched their lead to 13 as Stiles banked in a buzzer-beating three-pointer to end the period.

The offense for Piedmont continued to shine in the final 10 minutes, with a game-high 26 points to extend the lead to 20 points, proving too much for Averett to overcome.

In defeat, the Cougars' Camryn Lunsford delivered a standout performance, scoring a game-high 26 points while adding six steals.

Up next, Piedmont will take on N.C. Wesleyan tomorrow at 4 p.m. in the final game of the USA South East - West Classic at Cave Arena. The Battling Bishops prevailed over Huntingdon in comeback fashion in the first game on Friday afternoon.

TURNING POINT:
- Piedmont's 7-0 run to end the first quarter gave it a lead it did not relinquish the rest of the way.

STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
- HOPE FRANKLIN delivered her second straight and 16th career double double, scoring 13 points to go with 13 rebounds, five steals and three blocks.
- Skinner (7) and Woolfolk (15) found teammates all night, as the duo combined for 15 of the team's 21 assists.
- In her first action of the season, NAKIYAH WASHINGTON made her presence felt, with 15 points and five rebounds in just 20 minutes off the bench.

NEWS AND NOTES:
- The win marks Piedmont's first 3-0 start since the 2018-19 season.

HOW TO FOLLOW:
- To stay up to date on all information regarding Piedmont University 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.