BREVARD, N.C. - The Brevard College women's basketball team (23-4) reached 100 points for the first time in 2025-26, sinking its most single-game free throws in more than 10 years while hitting 12 3-pointers in a stelllar 100-77 victory over William Peace (16-11) in the USA South Conference Tournament semifinal matchup on Thursday evening at the Boshamer Gymnasium.
With the win, Brevard will host the USA South Conference Tournament Championship for the first time, as BC will square off against no. 2 Southern Virginia in a rematch of last year's USA South title bout.
Brevard attempted 40 free throws as a team, knocking them in at an 80% clip with 32 makes, marking the highest single-game made free throw total since the Tornados drilled 34 free throws at Mars Hill (Feb. 5, 2014). The Tornados also caught fire from long distance, especially in the second and third quarters where Brevard canned nine of its 16 attempts.
Leading by 10 points at the halftime intermission after a physical first half of play, BC used a 57% mark from the field and 67% performance from distance in the third quarter to pull away for good from the visiting Pacers.
Senior guard Jada Petty-Wilkins and sophomore forward Kayden Johnson each scored 20-plus in the winning effort for BC. Petty-Wilkins poured in a game-high 25 points with five made 3-pointers and nine rebounds, while Johnson tallied a double-double of 21 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. The USA South Defensive Player of the Year also swatted away four shots on the defensive end for the Tornados.
Senior guard Christena Rhone provided a much-needed spark for the Tornados, especially in the first half. All three of Rhone's made field goals were from beyond the arc, and the Morganton, N.C. native hit all 10 of her free throw attempts. The guard also dished out a team-high six assists and grabbed five rebounds. Olivia Miller (12 points), and Aleysha Hill (10 points) also joined Rhone in double figures, as the Tornados hit double-digit 3-pointers for the eighth time in 2025-26.
The Tornados scored the first ten points of the game and never trailed throughout the win over fifth-seeded WPU. The Pacers battled back after that first blow to get to within six points after the first ten minutes. The Brevard lead shrunk to two points twice in the second quarter before it grew to ten points heading into halftime. It would be a big third quarter that helped secure the win for the Tornados as the 24-11 margin proved too much to overcome for William Peace.
The victory gives the Tornados their NCAA-era record ninth consecutive win. The 23-point triumph over the Pacers marks Brevard's 17th victory in the last 18 contests. BC has now won 20 of its 23 games in the 2025-26 season by double digits and has secured 15 wins by 20 points or more.
The championship matchup with no. 2 Southern Virginia is slated for 2 p.m. on Saturday at The Bosh.
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