NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Berea 64, Piedmont 62
Records: Berea, 8-3 (4-0 USA South); Piedmont, 6-3 (2-1 USA South)

DEMOREST, Ga. - The Piedmont women's basketball team mounted a late comeback on Saturday afternoon, but Berea's Destiny Combs delivered the game-winning putback layup with under two seconds to play as the Lady Lions fell 64-62 at Cave Arena.

The Mountaineers led the entire way until a NAE-NAE EADES three-pointer tied the score for the first time in the contest. However, on the game-deciding possession, Combs was able to corral a loose ball and convert the layup to lift the Mountaineers over the top.

Graduate student KLAIRE VARNEY led the Lady Lions with 13 points with six rebounds while adding three assists. She was joined in double figures by LIVIA SKINNER, who delivered 11 points on 4-of-9 shooting. HOPE FRANKLIN added eight points and totaled a team-best 13 rebounds in the loss.

Berea was hot out of the gate as it jumped out to a 9-2 lead early in the first quarter. The Mountaineers led by as many as 10 points late in the period and took a 23-14 advantage to the second quarter.

The second quarter brought more of the same as Berea continued to control the pace, pushing its lead to 11 early in the period before Piedmont rallied back to cut its deficit to 35-28 heading to the break. 2019-20 USA South Player of the Year Aaliyah Hampton led the Mountaineers with 13 points in the first half. The Lady Lions committed 15 turnovers in the first half and were held to under 40 percent shooting.

Much like the first half, the Mountaineers raced out of the locker room, scoring the first eight points of the second half and building a 43-28 lead. However, Piedmont did not go away, closing the quarter on a 19-11 run to go the final 10 minutes trailing by just seven.

The Lady Lions hung within striking distance throughout the fourth quarter but were unable to crawl all the way back, until Eades drained her only shot attempt of the day, a three-pointer with 26 seconds remaining before the Mountaineers prevailed on their final possession of the contest.

Up next, the Lady Lions will travel to Clinton, South Carolina for an exhibition game against Presbyterian next Wednesday, Dec. 15.

TURNING POINT:
- Destiny Combs' putback layup proved to be the difference, erasing Piedmont's 15-point second half comeback.

STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
- Berea's Aaliyah Hampton led all scorers with 18 points.
- Varney led the Lady Lions with 13 points, knocking down 2-of-6 from long range.
- COLBY REED delivered a strong performance off the bench for Piedmont, scoring eight points on two three pointers.

NEWS AND NOTES:
- The Mountaineers have now won two straight regular season games over the Lady Lions at Cave Arena.

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.