Big Second Half Lifts Tigers Over Barons

Mt. Vernon - Freshman guard Tala Black (Marietta) scored a season high 22 points last night to lead the Brenau basketball team (11-9, 3-6) to a victory over Brewton Parker (4-15, 0-8) in SSAC action. Black connected on 8-12 from the field and 6-10 from the free throw line. She also added three assists in her best performance of the year. Gabby Harvey (Lilburn) and Brittney Wiley (Royston) joined Tala in double figures with 11 and 10 respectively. Sophomore Sarah Ward (Elberton) came off the bench to hit 3-3 from beyond the arc to finish with nine points.

Brenau shot a season best .481 from the field, including a red hot .619 in the second half, while holding Brewton Parker to .326 and forcing 35 turnovers with their pressure defense. The Tigers led for the entire game, opening up a 30-24 halftime advantage and quickly seizing control in the second half to lead by as many as 28 before settling in for the final margin.

"We finally got untracked offensively in the second half," said Coach Gary Bays. "We have been having trouble with movement on offense and I am hopeful that this will be sign of things to come down the final stretch of the season. We are also starting to disrupt the other teams with our pressure defense."

Brenau will return to the friendly confines of Tiger Gym next Tuesday when they host SSAC rival Emmanuel College.