KINGSPORT, Tenn. — Spartanburg Methodist College pulled off one of the tournament's biggest upsets Thursday night, knocking off second-seeded Bryan College 69-68 on a buzzer-beating pull-up jumper from Halle Traylor at the MeadowView Marriott Convention Center.

The seventh-seeded Pioneers ended Bryan's tournament run despite the Lions entering with a 21-7 record and an 18-2 conference mark — second best in the league during the regular season.

Bryan built an early 22-5 advantage but couldn't hold it. Spartanburg Methodist outscored the Lions 23-14 in the first quarter and took a 42-31 lead into halftime. Bryan clawed back in the second half behind Molly Brown, who led all scorers with 20 points on 8-of-19 shooting, and Kaylynn Walls, who was nearly automatic going 7-of-8 from the field for 15 points. Walls hit a go-ahead jumper with two seconds left to put Bryan up 68-67 — but Traylor answered immediately at the other end.

Traylor finished with 19 points and a game-high 8 rebounds for the Pioneers.

Bryan won the paint battle 42-24 but shot just 57.9% from the free-throw line (11-of-19), while Spartanburg Methodist went 21-for-34. Lady Lion turnovers also contributed to 15 Pioneer points off giveaways. In a one-possession game, both factored in the final margin.

Kadee Ferrell added 7 points, 11 rebounds and 7 assists for Bryan.

"Really proud of the second half we played to get ourselves the lead," said Head Coach Matt Bollant. "We executed the last play really well to go up," he continued.

The loss may not be the end of the Lions' postseason, however. If Milligan University wins the AAC tournament, the automatic bid to the national tournament transfers to the runner-up, Bryan College. The Lions will be watching results closely over the next couple of days.