JACKSON, Miss. - Despite a valiant comeback effort, the Belhaven Women's Basketball team fell 59-54 to Berea on Saturday in the regular season finale. The Blazers head into CCS Tournament play with a record of 16-8 (10-4 CCS).
The visitors from Kentucky used a 15-2 run in the first quarter to build a double-digit lead early. A late free throw gave Berea a 20-9 lead after the first quarter of action.
Belhaven grabbed the momentum midway in the second with a 6-0 run to cut the Mountaineer lead to just four with 4:46 left in the half. Both teams traded buckets over the final four minutes as Berea took a 30-24 lead into halftime.
The Blazers continued to climb back into the game in the third stanza as they drew within three after a basket from
Xhiir Burgess. Back-to-back scores from Berea extended the lead out to seven before Belhaven was able to trim the score to 43-37 heading into the final 10 minutes.
A 5-0 run by
Kourtne Lee herself got Belhaven within one at 45-44 with 6:30 left in regulation.
Ebony Gayden converted a three-point play the old-fashioned way to give the Blazers their first lead of the game at 48-47 with just over four to play.
However, Berea would outscore the Green and Gold 12-6 in the final four minutes to earn the 59-54 win and the top seed in next week's CCS Tournament.
Burgess was honored on Senior Day as the lone senior for the 2022-23 Blazers' squad, and she poured in a big day with a team-high 16 points and 13 rebounds. Burgess was dominant in the paint for the Blazers, even battling through an injury late to keep the Blazers in striking distance.
Shantashia John added 15 points while Gayden finished with 10 for Belhaven.
Belhaven will now turn their attention to postseason play with the CCS Tournament. The fourth-seeded Blazers will host the 5-seed Maryville Scots on Wednesday, February 22nd for a spot in the semifinals. Tipoff from Rugg Arena is slated for 7 PM.
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