DEMOREST, Ga. - It took an extra 10 minutes of game time, but the 6th-seeded Belhaven Women's Basketball team punched their ticket to the CCS Semifinals with an 81-72 double-overtime win over No. 3 Piedmont in Demorest on Tuesday.

The hosts jumped out to an early lead with the game's first six points and took a 19-8 lead after a quarter of play. The Blazers began to chip away midway through the second quarter as Ebony Gayden went on a 6-0 run herself to draw Belhaven with two at 25-23.

The Lions closed the half on a 6-2 run to take a 31-25 advantage into the break. Both teams traded baskets for a majority of the third period, but the Lions were able to extend their lead to double-digits at 43-33 at the four-minute mark of the third. Six straight from Belhaven cut the lead to four, and a layup from Gayden with time winding down drew the Blazers within three heading into the final 10 minutes.

The Blazers took their first lead of the contest after Xhiir Burgess converted an and-one opportunity to put them in front, 57-55, with 3:25 left. The Lions regained the lead on a pair of free throws with 13 ticks left, but Kourtne Lee delivered the biggest shot of the game with a jumper off the glass to level the score at 60 with the seven seconds to go. 

Belhaven got the stop on the other end to force another five minutes of play. Scoring came at a premium in the OT period as both teams managed six points apiece. Hayle Poindexter's game-tying layup with 1:38 left proved to be the final bucket of overtime as the game's outcome was still in the balance after 45 minutes.

Belhaven scored the second overtime's first five points to create a bit of separation. Piedmont responded to draw within one at 73-72, but the Blazers finished the game on an 8-0 run to stun the Lions, 81-72, and advance to Friday's semifinal round.

Burgess was dominant for the Blazers, totaling 22 points and 18 rebounds to lead Belhaven. Ashanti Lipscomb finished with 18 points on 3-of-5 from beyond the arc, while Ebony Gayden and Kourtne Lee added 17 and 15, respectively.

The Blazers will take on No. 2 seed LaGrange on Friday, February 23rd with a CCS Championship spot on the line. Tipoff is set for 6:00 PM.

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