BUENA VISTA, Va. - The Brevard College women's basketball team (20-6) fell 57-45 to top-seeded Southern VIrginia University (26-2) in the USA South Conference championship game on Saturday at Knight Arena.

The defeat wraps up a historic 2024-25 campaign for the Tornados in which they reached the 20-win mark for the first time in the NCAA era, while several BC student-athletes achieved single-season and career records. 

Makenna Parkins closed out her collegiate career with a 15-point performance, adding seven boards to eclipse the 600 career rebound mark. Jada Petty-Wilkins added 12 points with three 3-pointers made, while Lexi Shepard recorded nine points, eight rebounds, and three assists. Josie Hester wrapped up her BC career with seven points and four boards. 

Addison Newman paced the Knights with 22 points and five 3-pointers made. Alyssa Weiland also scored in double digits with 12 points. Ruth Keller grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds. 

Southern Virginia was able to hold Brevard to a season-low 24.6% mark from the field. The Knights controlled the glass 43-28, including a 15-6 edge in offensive rebounds. In addition to their margin on the glass, SVU controlled the paint, outscoring the Tornados 26-10 down low. 

Brevard got off to an 8-3 start through the first five minutes of action, but SVU ended the first quarter on a 14-3 run to take a six-point lead, 17-11 as the championship bout moved into the second stanza. 

BC cut the SVU lead to two points, 18-16, just two minutes into the second period. The Knights were able to hold Brevard to just three points for the remainder of the quarter, using a 12-3 run to take a double-digit lead at the intermission, 30-19. 

Brevard was only able to cut the deficit within eight the rest of the way, as the Knights kept up their defensive pressure to pull away with the 12-point triumph. 

With the victory, SVU earns the USA South's automatic bid into the 2025 NCAA DIII Tournament. 

2025 All-Tournament Team
Aysia Foster, Southern Virginia
Josie Hester, Brevard
Addison Newman, Southern Virginia (MVP)
Makenna Parkins, Brevard
Jada Petty-Wilkins, Brevard
Alyssa Weiland, Southern Virginia

2025 USA South Women's Basketball Tournament Results
(All contests played at the higher-seeded team in the matchup)
First Round - Tuesday, February 25
Game 1: #8 William Peace - 43   #1 Southern Virginia - 83
Game 2: #7 Greensboro - 31   #2 Brevard - 103
Game 3: #6 Meredith - 41   #3 N.C. Wesleyan - 82
Game 4: #5 Pfeiffer - 48   #4 Methodist - 63

Semifinals - Thursday, February 27
#4 Methodist - 50   #1 Southern Virginia - 69
#3 N.C. Wesleyan - 60   #2 Brevard - 70

Final - Saturday, March 1
#2 Brevard - 45  #1 Southern Virginia - 57
 

To follow the latest news and updates surrounding Brevard College Athletics, follow the Tornados on Twitter/Instagram @BCTornados, subscribe to 'Brevard College Tornados' on YouTube and SoundCloud, and follow 'Brevard College Tornado Athletics' on Facebook.  In addition, follow 'brevardcollege' on Flickr for photos from BC events.

-BC-