FROM STAFF REPORTS

MONTEVALLO – The University of Montevallo women’s basketball team ended a two-game losing skid with a 71-58 win over visiting Armstrong Atlantic State University in a Peach Belt Conference contest Jan. 26 at BankTrust Arena.

The Falcons (12-8 overall, 7-4 in Peach Belt Conference) tied their previous mark for most Peach Belt Conference victories in a season with the win over the Pirates. Montevallo won seven games during its first year in the conference during the 2009-2010 season.

Sophomore Taylor Beverly led the Falcons with 20 points and a game-high 14 rebounds as she posted her ninth double-double of the season. Beverly finished 9-of-15 from the floor in the win.

Senior Zena Nasiloski , who knocked down 5-of-11 field goals, added 13 points and 11 rebounds as she posted her fifth double-double of the season, including her second double-double of the effort.

Freshman Jacquelyn Thompson contributed 12 points. Senior Alex Strickland chipped in nine points and seven rebounds, while senior Trena Moore-Smith and junior Shay Bonner contributed seven points each. Moore-Smith finished with a team-high seven assists, while Bonner added four assists.

Senior Carolyn Taite finished with two points and 10 rebounds, while freshman Jerrisa Green contributed one point and three rebounds.

Armstrong Atlantic State took an early lead after opening the game with a 11-4 run, capped with a jumper by Mauri Wells.

The Falcons responded with a 11-2 run of their own to take their first lead, 15-13, following a layup by Bonner with 13:43 remaining in the first half.

Montevallo pushed its lead to as many as 14 points down the stretch in the first half, the last time on a jumper by Beverly with 19 seconds left in the half, which gave the Falcons a 45-31 advantage. Tori Klewicki-McNutt drained a jumper as time expired in the opening half to trim the Falcons’ lead to 12 points at halftime.

The Pirates cut the deficit to seven points following a layup by Demisha Mills with 16:15 remaining in the game, which trimmed the Falcons’ lead to 51-44.

However, Montevallo responded with a quick 6-0 run and pushed its lead back to 57-44 following a layup by Nasiloski with 13:27 left in the second half. Nasiloski pushed the Falcons’ lead to 66-49 with 8:05 remaining, keeping the Pirates from mounting a comeback attempt in the final minutes.

The Falcons will travel to Young Harris, Ga. to take on Young Harris College in a Peach Belt Conference game Thursday, Jan. 31. Tip off is set for 4:30 p.m. CST.

Montevallo returns to action at BankTrust Arena on Saturday, Feb. 2 with a home game against the University of North Georgia. The Falcons will be honoring breast cancer survivors during their Play 4Kay event, as well as the program’s alumni as part of its 40^th anniversary celebration. Tip off is set for 1:30 p.m.