DAYTON, Tenn.— Opening up a three-game road trip in Dayton, Tenn., the Montreat women's basketball team took on the Bryan College Lions Thursday evening in an Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) matchup. Putting their five-game winning streak on the line, the Cavaliers couldn't overcome the Lions as they fell by a final score of 84-60. With the defeat, Montreat's record moved to 10-5 (7-3 AAC).
 
The first half of play featured momentum-shifting runs by both teams. Bryan (7-9, 5-6 AAC) registered the contest's initial seven points across its opening three possessions, while the Cavs responded with a 15-2 spurt over 4:09 to seize a 15-9 advantage. Karis Alexander started Montreat's scoring stretch with a putback basket, while Vaniyah Petty, Rymiah Sanders and Virginia Edmondson accounted for the other 13 points. The Lions answered with a swift 7-0 span end to the frame, though, and they entered the second quarter with a slim 18-17 edge.
 
Edmondson reclaimed the lead with a pair of free throws early in the second period, and Petty's and-one kept the visitors on par with their counterparts at 22-22; however, BC capitalized on two extended sequences to flip the half in its favor. A 9-0 run and an 11-0 stretch saw the home side surge in front by as many as 16 points (42-26). Alexander and Sanders cut into the deficit during final minute, but the Lions still owned a 42-30 lead at the intermission.
 
Bryan further established itself when action resumed in the third quarter. The hosts opened the frame on an 8-0 run and never looked back. Edmondson and Petty combined for all eight of the visitors' points in the frame, but the Lions recorded 23 points of their own. By the period's end, BC held a 65-38 advantage on the scoreboard.
 
The Cavaliers saved their best offensive quarter for last. Ayanna Varela tallied nine of the squad's 22 points in the fourth frame, but Bryan did enough scoring of its own to prevent any tense or nervous moments down the stretch. When the final buzzer sounded, the home team claimed an 84-60 AAC victory.
 
As a squad, Montreat went 18-for-58 from the floor (31.0 percent), 4-of-21 from beyond the arc (19.0 percent) and 20-for-25 at the charity stripe (80.0 percent). Meanwhile, the Lions shot 46.0 percent overall (29-63 FG), 25.0 percent from deep (6-24 3-pt FG) and 76.9 percent at the free-throw line (20-26 FT). BC notched more rebounds (41-24), points in the paint (38-28) and assists (13-7) than the Cavs.
 
Sanders paced the visitors with 17 points, while Edmondson poured in 15 points and Petty contributed 13 points and a team-best eight boards. Katie Alexander tied for a game-high with three assists.
 
Montreat's next scheduled contest is currently slated for Saturday at Union Commonwealth University; however, the date and 2 p.m. tipoff time are subject to change due to the impending winter storm. Stay tuned to www.montreatcavaliers.com and Montreat College Athletics on social media for the latest information and updates.