NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Covenant 72, Piedmont 70
Records: Piedmont, 6-10 (3-4 CCS); Covenant, 4-12 (3-4 CCS)

LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, Ga. - Despite a valiant second half comeback, Piedmont women's basketball fell in a tightly contested CCS matchup, 72-70, at Covenant on Saturday afternoon on Lookout Mountain.

After falling behind by double digits in the first half, the Lions pulled ahead with a dominant third quarter. Unfortunately, the Scots prevailed in the final minute, converting clutch free throws to deliver the victory.

It was a balanced scoring attack for the Lions, with nine different players contributing to the point total and six players with eight points or more. Senior Riley Bryan led the way, with 12 points, six rebounds and four assists. She was joined in double figures by fellow senior Brooklyn Begley, who added 10 points to go with four rebounds and four assists.

Kylie Watkins, Gracie Deetz and Hayley Borino added nine points apiece in the loss.

Although the Lions led in the early part of the first quarter, 12-5, the Scots immediately responded with a 15-4 run to close the quarter with a 20-15 advantage. They carried the momentum into the second quarter, extending their halftime advantage to 40-27.

The third quarter saw the Lions flip the script, however, scoring 25 points and taking the lead late in the period. Piedmont owned the glass in the third quarter to foster the big comeback, with a 15-3 rebounding advantage overall, including 10 offensive rebounds. Piedmont also connected on 3-of-5 from long range and entered the final quarter down by just a point.

Piedmont led by as many as seven points just over midway through the final quarter, but the Scots clawed back into the game in the final minutes, earning numerous trips to the free throw line. Then, in what became a free throw shooting contest late, Covenant's Violet Wright made two in a row with 16 seconds left to put the Scots ahead for good, as Piedmont's last second three-pointer was just off the mark.

Up next, the Lions will have one week before hosting Asbury next Saturday, Jan. 24 at 2 p.m.

TURNING POINT:
- The Scots knocked down a pair of free throws with 16 seconds left for the final lead change of the game.

STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
- Bryan led the way with 12 points for Piedmont while also adding six rebounds and four assists.

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 X @PiedmontLions, Instagram: @PiedmontLions, and Facebook