Reinhardt Punches Ticket to Nationals With Win Over Montreat (N.C.)

By Mike DeVader, Reinhardt Director of Athletic Communications & Media

WALESKA, Ga. – The 22nd-ranked Eagles wrapped up the home slate inside the Brown Athletic Center with a 78-66 victory on Senior Night over the Cavaliers of Montreat (N.C.) on Wednesday evening, improving to 24-2 overall and locking up a bid to the NAIA postseason in the process.

Reinhardt (21-2 Appalachian Athletic Conference) – who is solid in second place in the conference standings – officially clinched a spot in the field at the 29^th Annual Division Ii Women's Basketball National Championship on March 11-17, 2020 inside the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City, Iowa.

Five players, including four starters for the hometown club, hit the 10-plus-point plateau in the win, headlined by senior Bethany Headrick and her 19 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals. She was joined in double figures by Ashton Sutton and Amberlee Zeller (13), along with Brittany Burnett and Catherine Shope – off the bench – with 11 tallies apiece.

The Eagles shot 25-of-60 (41.7 percent) and made a point to be aggressive and attack the basket throughout the game, nailing 21-of-26 from the free throw line. Both teams went back-and-forth in the opening period as the Cavaliers stayed right with their hosts in a high-scoring quarter. The defenses on both sides would get in a better groove and slow the scoring effort and send the squads to the locker room with a 38-32 score in favor of Reinhardt.

The third stanza again treated the hometown team with good fortune, as Reinhardt hit 20-plus points for the second time in three quarters (and then again in the fourth period) and held the Montreat attack to just 14 points for the second period in-a-row to expand its lead by six.

Now ahead, 58-46, the Eagles would keep their foot on the gas and pull their advantage up to 15 points with just over a minute remaining. The cushion would allow the coaching staff to clear the bench and say thank you to the seniors on their special day.

Defensively, Burnett tied for the lead in boards with eight, while adding four assists and a foursome of steals.

Symone Williams chipped in with 6 points, 5 assists and 3 steals. 

The regular-season finale is on Saturday afternoon at Allen (S.C.) at 2 p.m.

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