MOUNT BERRY Ga. - The Vikings women's basketball team (11-8, 5-3 SAA) extended their win streak to four after securing an overtime victory against the Rhodes College Lynx winning 57-54. Briaiah Lewis was the engine for Berry's offense, scoring a team-high 19 points.
The Vikings won the tip to get the afternoon started. Lauren Ellard wasted no time, going to the post to get the Vikings on the scoreboard first. The Lynx got their day started by going in front after making a three-pointer. Both teams traded baskets through the first quarter, the lead changing hands six times.
Briaiah Lewis carried the load offensively through the first quarter; the Atlanta native scored 10 of Berry's 15 points. Rhodes had the final possession for the quarter, but Berry held on to take a two-point lead into the half at 15-13.
The Lynx wasted no time beginning the second quarter, scoring five points unanswered to take a three-point lead. On the other end, the Vikings' offense struggled to get anything going. Before the Lynx could run away with it, Avery Payne scored the first basket for Berry with five minutes on the clock bringing the deficit back down to one. The Lynx responded with a 7-0 run extending the lead back to eight. The Tennessee native kept making things happen for Berry getting to the line to spark a run to once again bring the deficit back down to a point. The Lynx brought the lead back up to four before the half ended, the score 28-24 as each team left the floor.
Both teams started slow to begin the second half, but
Jade Lewis struck first for the Vikings nailing a three to once again bring the Vikings within a point.
Avery Payne followed the effort by getting to the free-throw line, making one to tie the game at 28. The Vikings couldn't keep the Lynx away from the basket for much longer as they finally had their first points of the quarter with six minutes on the clock going back ahead by two from the free-throw line. With four minutes left in the quarter,
Callie Jackson gave the Vikings their first lead of the second half from the corner. The Athens native helped Berry stay afloat, but the Lynx tied the score before the quarter expired. Both teams entered the final quarter with 37 points.
Looking to go home with a win, the Lynx struck first, delivering the ball right at the rim to take back a two-point lead. Both teams executed perfectly down the stretch, trading baskets as neither team could use their momentum to establish a cushion. As the game came down to the wire, the Lynx went ahead with two minutes left. Berry eventually found themselves with a possession with 50 seconds left on the clock, but Rhodes took it away and called a timeout with 35 seconds left. The Lynx went to the line with 30 seconds left in the game. They missed the first but made the second, and the Vikings called a timeout.
The Vikings put the ball in the hands of Briaiah Lewis coming out of the break. She crashed towards the basket and kicked it out to a wide-open
Jade Lewis for three to tie the game at 49 with 20 seconds left. With a chance to win on the other end, the Lynx inbounded the ball, but
Briaiah Lewis came up clutch and disrupted the play on defense forcing the ball out with 7 seconds left. After the forced reset the Lynx couldn't get it in before the deadline, and the game went to overtime.
The Vikings won the tip to begin the overtime period, but the Lynx struck first capitalizing on an early turnover to push ahead to a two-point lead. Briaiah Lewis came back down on the other end and got herself to the line giving the lead back to the Vikings at the charity stripe. The Berry defense kept the Lynx away from the basket, and once again
Briaiah Lewis forced the issue and extended the Berry lead back to two. The lead was short-lived as the Lynx went ahead by a point with a minute left. After failing to capitalize on the other end, Berry sent the Lynx to the free-throw line with 45 seconds left. They failed to convert either attempt remaining ahead by one. Back on the other end, the Lynx once again sent
Briaiah Lewis back to the free-throw line with 34 seconds left after attacking the entry pass. She tied the game back up at 54, and Rhodes called a timeout. Looking to make something happen out of the break, the Lynx lost the ball driving towards the basket, and the Vikings got out in transition with 14 seconds left. Briaiah once again drew the foul with 5 seconds left and gave the Vikings the lead. She missed the second free-throw, but the ball stayed with the Vikings and
Jade Lewis put the game away at the charity stripe 57-54.
The Vikings will leave the Cage to Danville, Kentucky to take on the Centre College Colonels next Friday, February 6th, at 6:00 p.m.
