NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Piedmont 81, Sewanee 51
Records: Piedmont, 1-0; Sewanee, 0-1

ROME, Ga. - The Piedmont women's basketball team opened its 2022-23 season with a dominant 81-51 victory over Sewanee at the CCS/SAA Classic in Rome, Georgia Saturday afternoon.

The Lady Lions took a modest lead into the half and ran away from the Tigers with a 27-10 edge in the third quarter to open the season with a win for the ninth consecutive year.

It was a balanced scoring attack for Piedmont as three scored in double figures and 13 different players scored overall.

The group was led by senior Nakiyah Washington and freshman Riley Bryan, who led with 14 each while junior guard Laken Stiles was fantastic, with a career-best 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting.

 



Senior shooting guard Colby Reed led the Lady Lions off the bench, pouring in eight points and a pair of three-pointers.

Sewanee led for much of the first quarter, but the Lady Lions ended the period on a 7-0 run to take a 15-12 lead into the second.

However, the Tigers battled back to take a 26-23 lead midway through the second quarter. But once again, Piedmont closed the quarter strong, this time with an 8-0 punctuated by a layup from Bryan with just over a minute to go to give the Lions a 31-26 lead headed to the half.

The Lady Lions blitzed the Tigers out of the locker room, scoring nine straight points to grab their first double digit lead of the contest. From there, they never looked back, increasing the lead to as much as 25 ponts late in the quarter to remove all doubt heading to the final quarter.

The offensive onslaught continued in the fourth quarter for Piedmont, as the team added 23 more points in the final 10 minutes to give it a 50-point second half.

Up next, the Lady Lions will look to improve to 2-0 as they battle Berry tomorrow at 3 p.m. to conclude play in the CCS/SAA Classic.

TURNING POINT:
- Piedmont used a 17-0 run overlapping the end of the first half and beginning of the second half to take control of the contest.

STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
- In her first career game for the Lions, freshman Riley Bryan tied for the team lead with 14 points on 4-of-6 shooting and 6-of-7 from the free throw line.
- Washington also tallied 14 points in just 17 minutes of action, shooting 6-of-10 from the field.
- Stiles totaled 13 points and added four rebounds and three steals

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
- The Lady Lions ramped up the pressure on defense, forcing 30 Sewanee turnovers and converting those into 29 points on the offensive end.

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