FRANKLIN – The Franklin women's basketball team stepped back onto the Spurlock Center floor on Saturday (Feb. 8) to host the Berea Mountaineers for the first time ever.
 
The Grizzlies (14-8, 8-7 HCAC) had three players finish the night in double figures but it wasn't enough to overcome the Mountaineers (12-10, 7-8 HCAC) in a 75-70 loss.
 
How it Happened
The Mountaineers surged out to an early lead, with the visitors connecting from deep on four of their first five field goals to take a 14-9 lead midway through the first and hold a 20-17 lead after one quarter. The Grizzlies got back to even at 23 with a Taylor Cooney layup at the 8:14 mark of the second quarter, but a 15-6 Berea run over the next three minutes opened up the biggest lead of the day to that point at 38-29.
 
Franklin was able to get back within a possession before the break, with a three from Jordan Coon late in the half cutting the deficit to 38-37 when the teams broke for halftime.
 
The Grizzlies' first lead of the day came with 4:14 to go in the third after two Erica Buening free throws. Franklin jumped back in front with the first bucket of the fourth quarter to make it 56-55, but a 13-0 Berea run followed to give the visiting side a 68-56 lead and put Franklin in a hole they spent the rest of the afternoon trying to dig out of.
 
Inside the Box Score
-Franklin shot 40.7% (24-for-59) from the field, knocking down six threes and going 16-for-18 from the line.
-Coon topped the Grizzlies with 16 points and had a team-high four assists, moving her within 22 points of 1,000 for her career.
-Kate Breeden set a career-high with 14 points, going 7-for-9 from the floor.
-Payton Seay added 10 points off the bench.
-Cooney topped the Grizzlies with eight rebounds as Franklin held a 40-35 edge on the glass.
-Turnovers proved critical as Franklin had 17 to just nine for Berea with points off turnovers 13-3 in the Mountaineers' favor.
-Franklin's bench erupted for 52 points in the game.
 
Up Next
Franklin is back at home on Wednesday (Feb. 12) night, welcoming the Transylvania Pioneers to the Spurlock Center with the senior night festivities taking place before the game. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m.