HIGH POINT, N.C. – For the first time ever, the Presbyterian College women's basketball team (20-14) captured the Big South Championship after taking down the 3rd-seeded Radford Highlanders (15-18) in the finals with a score of 60-37.
COACH SHARP'S THOUGHTS
"I am honestly speechless, I love these players so much. I think that the two words that I have used the most this year are resilient spirit and they have it. We beat a well coached basketball team. Our defense was amazing. Assistant coaches never get enough credit, but everyone of these kids knows what I know, that I love them so much and I am so thankful for the effort and the pour in to the program. I am just really thankful to be here and to coach these awesome women."
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter – The Highlanders scored first, but Presbyterian quickly responded with a layup from Tilda Sjökvist, bringing the score to 2-2. Both teams continued to trade baskets, reaching a tie at six points apiece. However, it was Radford who managed to pull ahead, reaching eight points first. Sjökvist then made a three-pointer for Presbyterian, followed by a foul shot from Laney Scoggins, putting Presbyterian ahead 10-8. Despite the Highlanders tying the score at 10-10, Presbyterian regained the lead with a layup from Núria Cunill. The quarter ended with Bryanna Brady taking a charge, but no additional points were scored, leaving the Blue Hose with a narrow 12-10 lead going into the second quarter.
Second Quarter – Radford swiftly tied the game after Presbyterian's initial lead. Paige Kindseth of PC drew a foul and successfully converted two free throws, putting her team ahead once again. Radford then scored a three-pointer, however the game took a defensive turn which led to no points either way over a three-minute stretch. Both teams managed to add four points each before the break, maintaining Radford's slight lead at 19-18 with 1:46 remaining in the first half. Just before halftime, Christina Kline scored two more points for Presbyterian, allowing them to take a slim lead of 20-19 heading into the break.
Third Quarter – The opposing team scored the first basket after halftime. However, Presbyterian responded strongly, scoring the next five points, including a three-pointer from Kline. After trading baskets, followed by a layup from Sjökvist, Presbyterian extended their lead to six points, leading 32-26 heading into the media timeout. Radford managed to score the only basket over the following two minutes. Both teams added four points each to their score, ending the third quarter with the Blue Hose maintaining their lead at 36-32.
Fourth Quarter – In the final period, Mara Neira started off with a crucial three-pointer, leading to an early media timeout with 8:42 left to play and a seven-point lead for the Blue and Garnet. Following the break, Neira added two more points, further extending Presbyterian's lead. However, the Highlanders managed to score the next three points, reducing PC's lead to six at 41-35. Sjökvist drew a foul and made both free throws, increasing Presbyterian's lead to eight with seven minutes remaining. Kindseth matched Sjökvist with a pair of free throws, continuing to boost their lead. Despite Radford adding two more points, the Blue Hose defense held strong, limiting Radford to 37 points while Presbyterian reached the 60-point mark, securing the historic victory and becoming the first team in Presbyterian College basketball history to win the Big South Championship Title.
NOTABLES
- Sjökvist was named Tournament MVP and was joined by Neira and Brady, plus Radford's Ashlyn Traylor-Walker and Joi Williams.
- The 2023-24 Blue Hose women's basketball team put PC on the map by being the first ever Big South Tournament winners to come out of Presbyterian College.
- The team's 20-win season marks the most wins out of any team in the program's history.
- Radford put up 60 plus points in both their quarterfinal and semifinal games before Presbyterian held them to just 37 points.
- The Blue Hose finished the game with a 15-point streak while holding the Highlanders to none, turning what had been a tight affair into a lopsided margin on the scoreboard.
UP NEXT
The Blue Hose are going to the NCAA Tournament! Tune in on ESPN next Sunday, March 17 at 8:00 p.m. to see what seed Presbyterian is given and who their opponent will be.
