MONTREAT, N.C. – The Bryan College women's basketball team extended their undefeated conference record to 8-0 and improved to 10-2 overall with a commanding 72-47 road victory over Montreat on Wednesday evening at McAlister Gymnasium.
After falling behind 15-12 at the end of the first quarter, the Lady Lions erupted for a 25-9 second quarter run to seize control and never looked back, outscoring the Cavaliers 60-32 over the final three periods.
Bryan received contributions throughout the lineup, with six players scoring six or more points.
Alyssa Petty led the bench unit with 11 points on efficient shooting, including a crucial 3-pointer in the fourth quarter.
Ashlan Crittenden and
Autumn Davis each added 10 points, with Davis providing a spark off the bench with 10 points in just 14 minutes.
Ellie Graham controlled the paint with 8 rebounds to go along with 5 points and 2 blocks, while
Kaylynn Walls added 6 points and 3 steals.
Ashlyn Plott and
Alivia Hall each contributed 6 points, with Hall connecting on two three-pointers.
The Lady Lions' defense was the story of the game, forcing 33 turnovers and converting them into 35 points. Bryan recorded 22 steals, led by
Kadee Ferrell's 5 and Walls' 3. The Lady Lions also won the battle on the boards 51-37, with Graham's 8 rebounds leading the way.
The Lady Lions' depth proved to be a major advantage, as the bench outscored Montreat's reserves 40-16. In addition to Petty's 11 and Davis' 10, the bench unit provided energy and maintained the defensive pressure throughout the game.
"After a rough first quarter, I thought we settled in and played really well the rest of the way," said head coach Matt Bollant. "It's always good to get a road win, especially in the middle of finals week, and now we head into Christmas break on an eight game winning streak," he continued.
With the victory, Bryan continues to lead the Appalachian Athletic Conference standings with a perfect 8-0 conference record. The Lady Lions will look to extend their winning streak as they continue conference play.
The 25-point margin of victory marks one of Bryan's most dominant performances of the season, showcasing the team's ability to adjust after a slow start and impose their will on both ends of the floor.
The Lady Lions will host Williams Baptist in a New Years Eve showdown on December 31st at 2:00 pm.
