MOUNT VERNON, Ga. - Ruthie Smith dropped a career-best 31 points on 27 field goal attempts with 10 makes, both game highs for either team, and grabbed 14 rebounds for a third time in her career against Brewton-Parker Christian. However, it wasn't enough as the Lady Barons (5-18, 4-8 SSAC) utilized hot shooting in the second and fourth quarters and overtime period to seize momentum and ultimately upset Faulkner (15-7, 9-4 SSAC) 72-70 on Thursday night at Gillis Gymnasium. The Lady Eagles won the shooting battle, outrebounded Brewton-Parker and blocked 10 shots to the hosts' four but were undone by lackluster shooting, fouls and turnovers down the stretch. 

Leading 25-17 with 6:35 left in the first half on Smith's third triple on as many possessions in the second quarter, BPCU outscored the Lady Eagles 14-1 for the rest of the half with a trio of treys and an and-one as the hosts held the latter to an 0-9 mark from the field in that time. Smith opened the third quarter with a pair of triples to bookend one by the Lady Barons' Jasmine Leynard.  

The teams traded points for the next few minutes as BPCU took a 38-37 advantage with 3:36 left in the period before Ella Jane Connell and Grace Anne Rose hit threes to put Faulkner in the lead going into the fourth quarter. The teams traded rallies and scores for the first five minutes of the final quarter. Following a Connell three with 5:53 left that put the Lady Eagles ahead 53-51, for the remainder of regulation, the Faulkner offense went 0-7 from the field while rallying to force OT with five free throws in the final minute.  

The Lady Eagles got behind the 8-ball with a triple by Sydney Beasley a minute into overtime. They pushed back, eventually tying the game back at 67 apiece with 53 seconds remaining before Beasley hit a jumper to get back into the lead. Leynard then finished off Faulkner with three free throws. 

Leynard dropped 27 points with three steals, four assists and five rebounds for the second-highest total on the boards for the Lady Barons. Beasley added 14 points and Chasity Degale 13. Andrian Stewart racked up 18 boards, 15 on the defensive end.  

Beyond Smith, the only other Lady Eagle in double figures was Connell with 13 as well as five rebounds. Morgan Holland DeWitt had 10 boards and eight points. Avery Rogers secured two triples, six boards and six assists. Brett Douglas came up with four blocks, and Smith had two. Sydney Steward had three steals and two blocks.  

Faulkner is set to make the return trip to Point on Saturday for a 1 pm CT tip.