Pickens pours in program-record 33 points in loss to No. 20 Ferrum

FERRUM, Va. – Junior Pat Pickens scored a program-record 33 points but it wasn't enough for the Huntingdon women's basketball team in a 70-57 loss to nationally ranked Ferrum on Saturday.

Ferrum (10-0, 4-0 USA South) entered the game ranked 20th by D3hoops.com and is the first team receiving votes in the USA Today national poll. In its first three conference games this season, Ferrum defeated Covenant by 34 points, Maryville by 25 points and Averett by 36 points. The Lady Hawks (8-4, 2-3 USA South) are one of only five teams to finish within 13 points of the Panthers this season.

Pickens' performance highlighted the day, as she scored 12 of the Lady Hawks' 22 points in the first half and 11 of Huntingdon's first 15 points in the second half. She finished 13-of-21 from the field, hit 7-of-8 free throws and grabbed nine rebounds.

No other Huntingdon players scored in double figures but Arbanee Dean pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds.

"I'm really proud of Pat and the job she did today. It's really the kind of performance we've come to expect from her," Huntingdon head coach Buzz Phillips said. "To play a team like Ferrum to within 13 points, that's encouraging. We still have a ways to go, but we need to move forward and keep playing with confidence."

This is the third time since the start of January that the Lady Hawks' NCAA-era single-game scoring record has been tied or broken. Pickens tied the previous mark with 28 points against Greensboro on Jan. 4 before Raven Prater set a new record with 30 points against Mary Baldwin on Jan. 11.

Huntingdon returns to action on Sunday at Averett (1-9, 0-4 USA South) at noon.