MOUNT BERRY, Ga. - The Vikings (9-8, 3-3 SAA) outclassed the Oglethorpe University Petrels with the final score 71-49 on Friday evening in the Cage Center.
Lauren Ellard was the spark as she contributed 20 points on 86% from the field.
Jade Lewis was also key in the victory as she was money from beyond the arc, cashing in four timely threes.
The whistle blew, and the Vikings came away with their first possession for the evening. The early goings foreshadowed the theme for this game as both teams asserted themselves defensively. The Petrels found themselves with a three-point lead with 7:30 on the clock after banking in a jumper and earning one more at the line. With the Vikings unresponsive the Oglethorpe offense keyed in, nailing a three-pointer to extend their lead to six. On the other end,
Avery Payne forced the issue and earned a point for the Vikings, but it wasn't enough to start the engine as the Petrels made another basket, putting the Vikings down seven after the first timeout.
Leaving the break, Elly Callihan found herself in the driver's seat and got things rolling with another opportunity at the line, sparking a run to completely close the deficit with two minutes left in the quarter.
Alana Azeta found herself at the basket in transition and pushed the Vikings ahead, giving the home team their first lead of the game.
With momentum on their side, the Vikings were primed to continue sailing ahead, but Oglethorpe took the lead back at the charity stripe following a foul on a three-point attempt. The Petrels weathered the storm, taking a one-point lead into the break, the score 11-10.
The defense was evident ending the first quarter and beginning the second, but both teams struggled to find their footing on offense. However,
Briaiah Lewis eventually found it for the Vikings, taking the lid off the basket with seven minutes on the clock. Oglethorpe eventually had their first bucket with five minutes on the clock and tied the score at 16 with minutes left in the quarter.
Jade Lewis laced her second three-pointer of the night to break the tie and spark a 10-3 run as the buzzer for the half sounded. The Vikings added two more to their lead before entering the locker room following a technical foul, the score 28-19.
The Petrels looked to bring themselves back into it as the second half began and they wasted no time executing, draining a three leaving the break.
Lauren Ellard had an answer, earning a layup to put the Vikings back up by eight.
Oglethorpe tried to keep themselves within striking distance. A technical foul led to a four-point swing in their favor, cutting the Vikings lead down to six. But on the other end,
Elly Callihan banked in a three to protect the lead.
The Petrels brought the lead back down to five following an and one opportunity, but Lauren Ellard brought the lead back to nine, and
Briaiah Lewis followed her bucket to push the lead to double digits. The Petrels had the last bucket of the quarter at the rim, bringing the deficit to seven points to make the score 39-46.
The Vikings started the final quarter looking to close out the contest.
Jade Lewis stole the first possession for the Vikings, and
Lauren Ellard cashed in on the other end, pushing the lead back to double digits. While the Petrels struggled to get things moving, the Vikings remained in motion as
Jade Lewis laced another three to extend the lead. The Vikings didn't leave much to chance, completely dominating down the stretch, outclassing the Petrels to stretch their lead to 21 as the final buzzer sounded, the final score 71-49.
The Vikings return to action in the Cage next Friday, January 30th against the Millsaps College Majors as they look to stay hot and extend their win streak to three at 6:00 p.m.
