BREVARD, N.C. – The Brevard College women's basketball team (4-2) rallied from a 14-point deficit in the second half to force overtime with a last-second layup, but fell in overtime after Berry College (3-3) outscored the Tornados 15-5 in the deciding period on Tuesday evening at the Boshamer Gymnasium.
 
Senior forward Olivia Miller and senior guard Christena Rhone sparked BC's rally, combining for 36 of Brevard's 63 points in the game. Miller scored 20-plus for the second-straight game, posting 20 points on a very efficient 10-of-13 from the floor with five rebounds, three blocks, two assists, and two steals. Rhone drilled three 3-pointers and hit five free throws to total 16 points with four rebounds and three assists. Aleysha Hill provided a spark defensively securing three steals, while Kayden Johnson and Malayka Rankin each grabbed seven boards to pace BC's slim 42-38 edge on the glass.
 
Brevard overcame a cold 25% first-half performance shooting the ball, hitting 38% of its second-half shot attempts. For the contest, Berry outshot Brevard 46% to 32%, outscored the Tornados 36-26 in the paint, and took advantage of its 14 offensive boards, turning them into 13 second-chance points.
 
The Tornados started the game off on a 10-2 scoring run through the first two-plus minutes, forcing a Berry timeout. The Vikings closed the period off with a 16-6 run to take a two-point lead, 18-16.
 
The Vikings were dominant in the second quarter, outscoring Brevard 18-10 in the frame to open up a 10-point halftime lead, 36-26. Berry carried that momentum into the early stages of the second half, leading by 14 points, 46-32, with 6:46 left in the third quarter.
 
Brevard responded in a big way, closing the third quarter out on a 11-0 run while holding Berry scoreless over the final six-plus minutes of action, as the Vikings held a narrow three-point edge at the end of the period, 46-43.
 
Brevard took its first lead since the first quarter at the 7:04 mark in the fourth period off a fast break layup by Miller off a Kennedie Noble assist. The lead changed hands several times in the fourth quarter as the two sides battled back and forth. Rhone hit a pair of free throws with 2:46 left to go to give the Tornados a one-point margin, and after each side traded numerous defensive stops, Berry broke through with four seconds left as Elly Callihan drained a 3-pointer at the top of the key off a Jeryn Jarrett assist that put the Vikings up by two with four seconds to go, 58-56.
 
Brevard called timeout, and Head Coach Donald Hudson drew up the final play as the Tornados executed on the floor. Miller took the inbound pass from Rhone and dribbled into the paint on the right side before dishing the ball to Johnson for a backside game-tying layup at the buzzer that sent the contest into overtime with the two teams tied at 58.
 
Berry controlled the overtime period, however, scoring 13 of the first 16 points to help itself clinch the road win, 73-63. Callihan led the Vikings with an impressive 20 points and 15 rebounds leading four Vikings in double figures joined by Briaiah Lewis (17 points), Lauren Ellard (14 points), and Callie Jackson (11 points).
 
The Tornados will enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday before returning to the court for their USA South Conference opener in Rocky Mount, N.C. against NC Wesleyan on Tuesday, Dec. 2 at 6 p.m.
 
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