Offensive Outburst Leads Lions to Thrashing of Brevard

BREVARD, N.C. – The Mars Hill women's basketball team dominated every facet of the game on Wednesday, February 08, destroying the Brevard Tornado by a final of 85-59 inside Boshamer Gymnasium. The Lions improved to 5-18 overall and 3-14 within the league, while BC dropped to 6-15 overall and 2-15 in conference.

Aliyah Farmer led the Blue and Gold with a game-high 24 on 11-of-15 shooting to go along with her seven rebounds, while Paige Chavis knocked down a trio of threes on her way to 20 points. Jenny Edwards added 17 points and nine rebounds and Madison Ervin pitched in her second double-double of the season with 13 points and 13 assists.

The first quarter started out very competitively as the Lions led by a single point (11-10) at the 6:57 mark, but a monstrous 17-2 run over the next five-plus minutes catapulted the Blue and Gold ahead by a whopping score of 28-12. A three-ball by Brevard at the end of the frame trimmed the lead to 28-15.

However, six straight from the Lions to open the second quarter gave Mars Hill its biggest lead of the contest (34-15), capped off by a hoop-and-harm by Jenny Edwards. Brevard scored eight of the next 11 points to trail 37-23 with six minutes remaining before the half. Once again the Lions continued their impressive shooting, running the advantage back to 19 points (42-23) and controlling a comfortable 50-33 lead at the break.

The Lions enjoyed their best offensive performance of the season, scoring a season high in any half, 50 points, while shooting a scorching 55.6% (20-36). Mars Hill also forced 13 Brevard turnovers, scoring 22 points off those miscues. Aliyah Farmer led all scorers at the break with 16, while Edwards and Paige Chavis chipped in 11 each. Madison Ervin filled the stat sheet in the first 20 minutes of action, tallying nine points, nine assists, and three boards.

An 11-5 start to the third quarter for the Lions ballooned the lead to its highest (61-38), forcing a timeout from the Tornados bench. That scoring run extended to 17-7 (67-40) as Mars Hill was clicking on all cylinders. Brevard ended the session on a 6-4 mini run, but trailed 71-46 entering the fourth.

The fourth quarter was more evenly contested as the Lions outscored the Tornados 14-13, but the damage had been done over the first 30 minutes with MHU dominating en route to an 85-59 win. The Lions excellent shooting continued throughout the contest as they finished 34-of-64 from the floor (53.1%) and five-for-12 (41.7%) from three.

Annalee Bollinger led the Tornados with 21 points, while the league's leading scorer, Madison Lenox, was held under her season average (22.1) with 20 on 9-of-22 from the field. The Lions held Brevard to 39.7% (23-58) from the floor, including 22.2% (6-27) from downtown.

Mars Hill will be back in action on Saturday, February 11, playing host to the Royals of Queens University. That game is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. inside Chambers Gymnasium.