BUENA VISTA, VA. — Offensive rebounds plagued the Knights in the fourth quarter, aiding the Tornados in their comeback, but Southern Virginia's Women's Basketball (9-9, 8-3) took down second-seeded Brevard College (13-5, 9-2) 81-79 in an overtime thriller. 

Leading the charge for the Knights, sophomore Addison Newman recorded a team-high 21 points, shooting 6-for-13 from the field and knocking down seven of her eight free throws. Newman added six rebounds and four assists and was a menace on the court with a career-high eight steals. 

"It was a great team win," exclaimed Newman. "We shared the ball well, and everyone did their part when we needed it. We worked hard all week getting ready for this, and our coaches made sure we were prepared, and after losing to them two weeks ago, we were ready to play. We came out and executed and got the job done. It was a fun game."

Presley Heggie was on a mission in the first quarter, going 4-for-7 from the field and three three-pointers to lead all players with 12 points. Newman saw the court well, dishing out three assists, while Abigail Snyder brought in three rebounds. With energy surged into the team, the Knights went into the second quarter with a 21-14 lead. 

"Coming into the game today, I was confident in my teammates and my shot," Heggie shared. "We talked a lot about sharing the sugar, and we executed that, which helped me get some good open looks in rhythm."

"After the tough loss at Brevard, we knew coming into this game that we had a lot to prove," continued Heggie. "We have been doing a lot of mental strength training with things like visualizing and being mentally tough which helped us stay disciplined and positive, especially in the second half. We played really good team basketball, and even when we got down, we could remain composed and knew that if we kept trusting each other and Coach, we would be able to come out with the win."

The barrage from Southern Virginia continued into the second quarter as Alyssa McKrola spotted Newman for a three to open the second, extending the lead to ten points, 24-14. Then, McKrola came alive with six more points to grab the team's largest game lead at 17 points, 33-16. Brevard collected themselves, settling into the game and punching back against a potent Southern Virginia offense, cutting their deficit to eight points with under one minute remaining in the first half. Still, after a missed three by the Tornado's Makenna Parkins, Maria Savvun drained a two-pointer with her foot just over the three-point line to kill all momentum for Brevard. 

After a third quarter headlined by a dominant Newman effort of six points and three steals, Brevard made their move, changing the game's trajectory completely. 

The Tornados grabbed their first of ten offensive rebounds from Olivia Miller, who capitalized with a strong layup; Makayla Street completed the 10-2 scoring run, knotting the game at 57. A Savvun foul earned Street a free throw which she knocked down, giving Brevard their first game lead. 

An offensive shootout ensued, with both teams trading buckets and the lead that continued until time expired. With two seconds on the clock and the Knights clinging to a two-point lead, Snyder was called with a questionable foul that gave Brevard two shots at the free throw line. Chyna Pouncey clutched up and nailed her two shots, forcing the game into overtime. 

With an extra five minutes on the board, Southern Virginia took a two-point lead courtesy of two Emma Camden free throws. Courtney Olson added another pair of free throws one minute later. A mad scramble for the ball closed out the game, as Heggie brought in a huge offensive rebound after missing two shots at the free throw line with six seconds remaining. The Knights ran out the clock, completing the upset over the second-seeded Tornados. 

"I love how we battled this game," Head Coach Lynette Schroeder stated. "Brevard is a good team, and we were able to stay steady against their runs and grit it out."

With Mary Baldwin scheduled next, Southern Virginia looks to continue their winning streak and make a charge in the USA South Conference standings. The Knights take on the Fighting Squirrels on Tuesday, January 31st in Knight Arena at 6 pm.

For the most up-to-date information and details about the team, visit knightathletics.com and follow @knight_wbb on Instagram.