ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. - Senior guard Josie Hester surpassed the 1,000-point mark for her collegiate career as the Brevard College women's basketball team (18-5, 13-3 USA South) withstood a late rally to earn a 74-67 victory over NC Wesleyan (14-8, 11-4 USAS) in the regular season finale Saturday in Rocky Mount, North Carolina.
 
With the victory, BC secured the two-seed in the upcoming 2025 USA South Conference Women's Basketball Tournament - Brevard's highest USA South finish in program history. BC's win on Saturday was its 18th of the season, setting a new NCAA-era record for single-season wins, surpassing last season's mark of 17.
 
Hester, a second-year Tornado from Huntersville, North Carolina, poured in a game-high 29 points in her final regular season collegiate contest to eclipse the 1,000 point mark for her career. Hester has scored 680 of her now 1,013 collegiate points in a Tornado uniform. The senior guard went 11-of-19 from the field and made a pair of 3-pointers while also matching the team lead of eight rebounds and snatched a team-best three steals.
 
Fifth-year senior Makenna Parkins added 15 points in her final collegiate regular season contest, making seven field goals with six rebounds as well. Lexi Shepard marched the team lead with eight boards, and Jada Petty-Wilkins distributed five assists.
 
BC turned up the heat in the second quarter, going 11-of-17 from the field to help itself take a 41-27 advantage into halftime. The two sides were nearly even in the third quarter before the Battling Bishops made a late charge in the fourth period. The hosts cut the deficit down to a five-point margin, 64-59, with 3:50 left to go, but Hester responded by scoring Brevard's next seven points to help the Tornados pull back away. A late Petty-Wilkins free throw and Parkins layup iced the contest as Brevard secured the two-seed in the tournament.
 
BC outshot NCW 46.9% to 31% from the field, while the Battling Bishops controlled the boards 46-37 - including a dominant 19-5 mark on the offensive glass. Brevard dominated the painted area, more than doubling up NCW 42-20 in the game.
 
Corynthian Williams led the offense for NCW with 15 points, and Iyania Evans paced the charge on the glass with 11 caroms.
 
Brevard's first-round matchup is set, as the second-seeded Tornados will take on #7 Greensboro on Tuesday, February 25 at 6 p.m. inside of the Boshamer Gymnasium.
 
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