NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Piedmont 69, LaGrange 52
Records: Piedmont, 20-3 (13-1 USA South); LaGrange, 13-9 (8-5 USA South)

LaGRANGE, Ga. - The Piedmont women's basketball team won its 14th game in a row with a 69-52 victory at LaGrange on Wednesday night.

After a back-and-forth battle for the first two and a half quarters, the Lady Lions reeled off a 27-6 run to end the contest and win going away.

LIVIA SKINNER led Piedmont with 15 points on 5-of-11 from the field and 3-of-4 from beyond the arc. Skinner also dished out five assists to lead the team. HOPE FRANKLIN came off the bench to score an efficient 13 points on 4-of-6 shooting in just 16 minutes of game action. NAKIYAH WASHINGTON (13) and KLAIRE VARNEY (10) also scored in double figures for the Lady Lions.

The Panthers jumped out front early, scoring the first six points of the game. However, Piedmont immediately responded, taking its first lead of the game on a Washington three-pointer with 4:55 left in the opening period. 

The Lady Lions led by four at the end of the first quarter and held that exact same lead going into halftime.

LaGrange held tough in the third quarter and even jumped ahead with 3:46 left on a layup by Gracie Brunel that came in the midst of a 10-0 run for the Panthers. The Lady Lions answered back with four straight points from Franklin to send the game to the final 10 minutes knotted up at 46.

Piedmont's defense was stifling in the final quarter, as it held LaGrange to just six points total and off the scoreboard until 4:07 remained in the contest. By then, the Lady Lions had stretched their lead to 57-48 and had momentum squarely on their side.

Overall, Piedmont forced seven Panthers turnovers and held them to just one field goal over the final 10 minutes. 

Up next, the Lady Lions will have a showdown at Berea this Saturday, Feb. 12 at 2 p.m. with the USA South West Division Regular Season Championship on the line.

TURNING POINT:
- Piedmont used a 15-0 run over the end of the third and beginning of the fourth quarters to take control of the game.

STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
- Skinner was outstanding yet again for the Lady Lions, leading all scorers with 15 points on 3-of-4 from deep and a team-best five assists.
- Franklin added 13 points in 16 minutes off the bench.
- Washington battled foul trouble but tallied 13 points in 18 minutes.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
- The Lady Lions enjoyed a 27-12 advantage in bench points.

NEWS AND NOTES:
- Piedmont has now won nine straight over LaGrange.

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.