MONTREAT, N.C.— The Montreat women's basketball team hosted the No. 11-ranked Bryan College Lions on Saturday afternoon, concluding its regular-season Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) slate inside McAlister Gymnasium. Montreat ultimately fell to the AAC powerhouse, losing 93-54 and dropping to 12-18 (9-15) this season.
 
Bryan (29-0, 24-0 AAC) sprinted out to a 7-0 edge as the Cavs missed their first six shots from the floor, but Montreat had a 7-0 run in store as well. Two-point baskets from Destiny Lewis and Caleigh Raby brought the Cavs within three points, and Jessyka Leak drilled a shot from deep to tie the game four minutes in.
 
Montreat grabbed nine offensive rebounds in the first quarter, but despite the quick response and dominance on the offensive glass, the Cavs couldn't take advantage. Montreat made just four of its 24 looks from the field (16.7 percent) through 10 minutes, and the No. 11-ranked Lions used that quarter to build a 21-11 edge.
 
Bryan's offense, which shot 38.9 percent (7-18 FG) in the initial frame, started to click in the second quarter. The Lions made 10 of their 20 shots to outscore the Cavaliers by 12 points (25-13) in the period. Six different Cavs scored in the quarter, but Montreat trailed the visitors, 46-24, at halftime.
 
The Cavaliers shot 21.4 percent (9-42 FG) in the first half, while the Lions were 17-38 (44.7 percent) from the floor. Fourteen offensive rebounds, plus seven Bryan turnovers, kept the Cavaliers within shouting distance through 20 minutes of action. Raby led Montreat at the break with eight points, while Triniti Lockhart had a team-high six rebounds and two assists.
 
Bryan scored the first seven points of the second half, building its edge out to 53-24. The Cavaliers got some decent looks around the basket in the frame but couldn't convert. Montreat ultimately made just four of its 17 shots (23.5 percent) in the quarter, while the Lions used tempo and transition baskets to shoot 56.3 percent (9-16 FG) and lead 70-37 entering the final frame.
 
Montreat grabbed eight offensive rebounds that helped lead to 26 shots in the fourth. The Cavaliers made seven baskets over the 10 minutes for their highest-scoring quarter of the contest (15 points). Unfortunately for Montreat, Bryan had its fourth 20+ point quarter of the game, and the Lions closed out Montreat to end the regular season, 93-54.
 
Raby and Tatiyana Cannon were the only Cavaliers to reach double figures in scoring on Saturday, registering 10 points each. Raby added five rebounds and a team-high four assists in the effort as well. Vaniyah Petty poured in eight points from the floor and hauled in 12 boards, six of which came on the offensive glass.
 
Bryan outshot Montreat overall, going 33-72 (45.8 percent) from the field and 10-34 (29.4 percent) from deep. The Cavaliers shot 23.5 percent overall (20-85 FG) and 18.2 percent (6-33 3-PT FG) from behind the arc. Bryan also held edges in points in the paint (44-20) and fast break points (20-10).
 
The Montreat women's basketball team plays next on Monday in the first round of the AAC Tournament. Montreat is the No. 11 seed and will travel to Grayson, Ky. to take on the No. 6-seeded Kentucky Christian University Knights. Tipoff time has yet to be announced.