Hawks Fall In Tight Battle With Piedmont

MONTGOMERY,Ala.- In their third CCS matchup of the season, Huntingdon women's basketball (5-7 overall, 2-1 CCS) fell to the Lions of Piedmont University (7-4 overall, 1-1 CCS) in a highly contested battle, 66-60.

Highlights

First Quarter

• The Hawks started the game off strong on an 8-2 scoring run in the first 3 minutes with baskets coming from Cassidy Campbell, Briana McGruder, and Charity Shaw

• Responding in a similar fashion, Piedmont went on a run of their own to bring the score to 11-7 with 5 minutes left in the quarter

• The Lions tied the game at 11 at the 4:57 mark in the quarter

• Over the next few possessions, the two teams traded stops, but a midrange jumpshot with 3:27 remaining in the quarter gave the Lions their first lead, 13-11

• Two free throws from Deshauna Foote evened the score at 15 just inside of two minutes left of the quarter

• Briana McGruder gave the Hawks back the lead on a layup with 40 seconds remaining in the quarter, 17-15. The Hawks held onto this slight lead going into the second quarter

Second Quarter

• Makayla Ford knocked down a triple at the 8:43 mark to push the Huntingdon lead to 22-16

• An 8-1 scoring run from the Lions put them back ahead 26-25 with 5 minutes left until halftime

• Charity Shaw put in a layup to give the Hawks back the lead with 2:40 remaining until the half, 30-29

• Briana McGruder put an end to a 6-2 scoring run from Piedmont with a layup in the final seconds of the half, leaving the Hawks trailing 35-34 at the half

Third Quarter

• A three point jumper from Kinstin Davis at the 7:50 mark in the quarter evened the score at 3

• Another bucket from Davis put the Hawks back ahead of Piedmont 39-37 with 6:29 left in the quarter

• After minutes of trading stops, the Lions finished a layup to put them back ahead 43-41 at the 2:46 mark in the quarter

• In the final 10 seconds of the quarter, Makayla Ford finished a tough shot underneath the basket off an offensive rebound to even the score at 45, but the Lions made 3 free throws at the end of the quarter to give them a 48-45 lead headed into the final quarter

Fourth Quarter

• Kennedy-Ryan Jackson finished a layup on the Hawks first possession of the final quarter to bring the Hawks within one at 48-47

• Another layup from Jackson gave the Hawks a 51-50 lead at the 7:34 mark

• The Lions took the lead back 53-51 on a shot from deep with 7 minutes remaining

• A 7-0 run from Piedmont gave the Lions a 60-56 lead with two minutes remaining in the game

• Briana McGruder put in two layups in the final minute of the game, but several free throws from the Lions held off the Hawks, giving Piedmont a 66-60 victory.

Key Notes

• Piedmont outrebounded the Hawks 51-45

• Huntingdon forced 23 Lion turnovers, scoring 13 points off them

• The matchup consisted of 18 ties and 24 lead changes

Hawk Top Performers

• #35 Briana McGruder- 14 points, 14 rebounds,

• #12 Makayla Ford- 13 points, 5 rebounds

• #34 Deshauna Foote- 8 points, 7 assists,4 rebounds

The Hawks look to bounce back on Friday, January 12th at home against the Maryville Scots. Tip off is set for 5:00 PM CT.