BUENA VISTA, VA. — The Southern Virginia University women's basketball advanced to USA South Conference Championship Friday night, taking down the Lions of Piedmont in Knight Arena 62-53. 

"I am proud of the way we defended tonight," said head coach Lynette Schroeder. "We executed our game plan defensively and kept our composure on the offensive end. It was a tough game and both teams competed well."

Players of the Game

Savanna Christensen: Game-high 18 points | seven rebounds | three assists

Katie Garrish: Double-Double | 14 points | 12 rebounds | nine blocks

Game Notes

• Piedmont set the pace in the first quarter, outscoring Southern Virginia 19-17
• Savanna Christensen led the team in the first with nine points, along with three assists
• With her fourth point of the game, Savanna Christensen scored her 1,000th point of her career
• The Knights dominated the second quarter, anchoring down defensively, only allowing four total points from the Lions
• Savanna Christensen, Courtney McKrola, and Anna Singer all led the team with four points
• Katie Garrish added a bucket and a pair of blocks in the second 
• Southern Virginia went into the halftime break with the 37-23 advantage 
• Piedmont began scratching away at their deficit, outscoring Southern Virginia 16-13 in the third quarter
• Courtney McKrola led all players with five points, while Katie Garrish still dominated the court with four points and four blocks
• Addison Newman took matters into her own hands in the final quarter of play, recording five points, and five rebounds
• Katie Garrish added four more points to her total, while Sophie Wright sank a bucket to help carry the squad to the Championship game.

Southern Virginia will face off against Berea College in the USA South Conference Championship game in Knight Arena Saturday, February 26. Game time is set for 3 pm. 

Follow @knight_wbb on Instagram for more updates and details on the team.