BIRMIMGHAM, Ala. -- Nia Smith tallied a team-high 17 points, but Berry College lost to Birmingham-Southern, 76-68, on Friday afternoon in the quarterfinals of the SAA Tournament.

The top-seed Panthers moved to 22-3 and advance to Saturday's semifinals. Berry's season ends with a record of 8-18.

Berry gave BC all it could handle. The visitors trailed by 68-64 after Emma Cook made a layup with 2:33 left in regulation, but the Vikes got no closer. BC outscored BSC 23-18 in the final quarter.

Smith recorded her second straight season-high for points after tallying 13 to close the regular season play at Sewanee last weekend. She started for the Vikes, was 7-of-17 shooting and collected five rebounds. 

Cook contributed 13 points on 5-for-15 shooting. Alex Weems came off the bench to contribute 12 for the Vikes.

For the game, Berry led in field goals (26-20), three-pointers (7-6) and rebounds (41-30). The Panthers, however, had a big edge at the free throw line. Berry was 9-for-17 from the charity stripe to BSC's 30-of-40.

BSC led 38-27 at halftime.

Jasmynn Batts notched a game high 25 points for the Panthers. She was 13-for-15 from the free throw line.

"We played a good game today," said Vikings' Head Coach stephanie Dunn. "We made the top seed earn the win. We were very close late in the fourth quarter, but didn't capitalize down the stretch. We are not graduating anyone and we will work hard and look forward to next year."