BREVARD, N.C. – The Brevard College women's basketball team (16-8, 11-7 USA South) ran past Salem College (8-17, 4-14 USAS) 93-59 on Saturday afternoon at the Boshamer Gymnasium.
 
The matchup served as BC's Senior Day, where the Tornados honored its senior class of Alexis Marshall, Makenna Parkins, Cassie Plemmons, and Chyna Pouncey in a special pre-game ceremony.
 
With the win, the Tornados match their NCAA-era program record of 16 victories set last season. Brevard now turns its attention to the 2024 USA South Conference Women's Basketball Tournament, where the Tornados locked up the four-seed and will host Greensboro College on Tuesday, February 20 at the Boshamer Gymnasium.
 
Jada Petty-Wilkins came off the bench to score a career-high 22 points in the regular season finale, knocking in a team-best four 3-pointers and matching Christena Rhone and Lexi Shepard for the team lead with three steals apiece. Josie Hester added 16 points with three made 3-pointers, and Makayla Street logged 11 points in the game. Plemmons earned her first collegiate start and scored six points for the Tornados, while Naliyah Boyce and Shania Houser each grabbed six rebounds. Shepard distributed out a game-best six assists. Salem was led by Dionne Sampson, who scored 14 points.
 
BC forced 22 Salem turnovers and scored 29 points off those miscues. Brevard's bench contributed 58 of its 93 points in the game, and the Tornados dominated down low with 48 points in the paint. The Tornados won the battle on the glass by a wide margin, 46-24, and hit nine 3-pointers compared to Salem's one.
 
Salem was able to stay within striking distance through the first half, as Brevard held a 37-27 lead after two periods. BC outscored the visitors 24-19 in the third quarter to hold a 15-point margin but exploded for 32 points in the final quarter to win by a comfortable 34-point margin.
 
The Tornados will match up with fifth-seeded Greensboro College on Tuesday, February 20 at 6 p.m. at the Boshamer Gymnasium, marking the third consecutive season that Brevard has hosted a USA South postseason contest. Stay tuned to usasouth.net for further tournament updates.
 
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