BOX SCORE
ATLANTA,
GA. -- Piedmont College rallied from an 11-point second-half
deficit to top Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology 59-56 in
the women's basketball season opener for both teams on Friday
night.
Piedmont, which finished 21-5 last season, trailed 52-39 with 6:14 remaining but closed the game with a 20-4 run to overcome a strong performance by the Fightin' Engineers.
Junior Kelsey Ploof (Noblesville) led Rose-Hulman with 21 points and grabbed a career-high 18 rebounds. Ploof recorded her third career 20-point game and shattered her previous career-high total of 12 rebounds in the effort.
Freshman Andi Evers (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mount Notre Dame) added 11 points and five rebounds.
Junior Lauren Meadows (Indianapolis/Brebeuf) provided more balance with eight points. Freshman Addie Johnson (Caledonia, Mich./Catholic Central) added a well rounded effort with eight points, seven rebounds and six assists, with sophomore Gracie Gibbs (Parker, Colo./Ponderosa) contributing six points and five boards.
Rose-Hulman built a game-high 11-point lead at 50-39 on a layup by Ploof at the 6:14 mark of the second half. Piedmont rallied with a 13-2 run to tie the score at 52-52 on a three-pointer by Taylor Swoszowski with 2:12 remaining.
The Eagles then closed the game on a 7-4 run to secure the win.
Rose-Hulman returns to action in the consolation game of the Emory Invitational with a 6 p.m. matchup against Spelman on Saturday night.