MOUNT BERRY, Ga. — After going behind 20-9 in the opening quarter, the Berry College women's basketball team fought back to within a basket late in the game, but fell to the LaGrange Panthers 72-64 on Saturday night. 

The Vikings were led by Nia Smith off the bench who put up 15 points on 4-9 shooting and was 6-8 at the free throw line. As a whole, Berry shot just over 30 percent on the evening, but couldn't keep up with the Panthers' shooters who went 50 percent from the field and three-point range. Riley Chlupacek led LaGrange, going 7-10 from three point range and putting up 25 points. 

Berry was 17-22 from the charity stripe in the second half and began fighting harder on the boards to gain more opportunities. The 40 second-half points were not enough to top the Panthers, who continued to shoot efficiently down the stretch. 

BERRY STANDOUTS:

• Nia Smith: 15 pts, 4-9 FG, 6-8 FT, 5 REB
• Alex Weems: 14 pts, 3-10 FG, 8-12 FT, 3 REB
• Eveline Parsons: 10 pts, 3-6 FG, 2-2 FT, 3 STL
• Alex Kiernan: 8 pts, 3-6 FG, 2 REB

LAGRANGE STANDOUTS:

• Riley Chlupacek: 25 pts, 7-12 FG, 7-10 3FG, 4-4 FT, 2 AST
• Lauren Johnson: 13 pts, 3-6 FG, 7-8 FT, 5 REB
• Jaelynn James: 6 pts, 4 REB, 5 AST
• Marilauren Farr: 6 pts, 3-4 FG, 3 REB

NOTABLES:

• 71.9 percent was the best game the Vikings have had at the free throw line all season
• Berry also turned the ball over a season-low 15 times

UP NEXT:

• Berry will face Piedmont tomorrow at 4:00 p.m. to close the USA South/SAA Classic