Mars Hill Outlasts Brevard For First Conference Win

MARS HILL, N.C. – The Mars Hill women's basketball claimed its first conference win of the season by beating the visiting Brevard Tornado inside Chambers Gymnasium on Wednesday evening. The Lions improved to 3-14 overall and 1-10 in the league, while Brevard fell to 5-10 overall and 1-10 in the conference.

Paige Chavis led the Lions offensively with a team-high 15 points, while Jenny Edwards and Aliyah Farmer nearly missed double-doubles, collecting 14 points, eight rebounds and 11 points, nine rebounds, respectively. Sydney Comer chipped in nine points, including two-of-three from downtown. MHU connected on 21-of-53 attempts from the floor for 39.6%, while forcing 21 Brevard turnovers.

Both offenses were locked in early, racing out to a 7-all tie just three minutes into the contest. Down 12-10 late in the quarter, Mars Hill benefited from back-to-back buckets by Chavis and Edwards to take a 14-12 lead into the second frame of play.

Chavis opened the second with a personal 5-0 run to give MHU its biggest advantage (19-12) at the 9:24 mark. That lead opened to 22-14 before Brevard reeled off five in a row to narrow the gap to 22-19. However, the Blue and Gold were determined to keep the lead, expanding the lead to double-digits (29-19) with a 7-0 burst. A Comer three capped off a 13-3 spread, sending the Lions into halftime with their biggest lead of the season, 35-22.

Mars Hill blistered the nets in half number one, knocking down a season-high 51.9% (14-27), while holding Brevard to 8-of-26 (30.8%).

Brevard outscored the Lions 15-9 in a sloppy third quarter to head into the final period of play trailing only 44-37. The Tornado momentum carried over into the final stanza as they started the quarter with an 8-2 run to cut the deficit to a single point (46-45) with 7:43 remaining in regulation. However, a pivotal 11-4 run over the next six minutes put the Lions ahead by eight (57-49) and the Blue and Gold were able to milk the clock on its way to conference win number one on the season, besting the Tornado 63-52.

Madison Lenox led all scorers with 28, while AnnaLee Bollinger pitched in 11. The Tornado shot 35.7% (20-56) from the field, including 6-of-34 from long range. Brevard held a 39-35 advantage on the boards.

The Lions will travel to Wingate, N.C. on Saturday, January 21 to take on the Bulldogs of Wingate University. Tipoff for that contest is scheduled for 2 p.m.