MONTEVALLO, Ala. – The Montevallo women's basketball team scored its most points since 2019, as the Falcons closed non-conference play with a dominant 94-67 win over UT Southern on Tuesday night.

Montevallo saw its best shooting effort of the season, as the Falcons shot 51.4 percent from the field. Elisa Saffold led the way with 25 points, including five made three-pointers. Jordan Gillies earned her first double-double of the season and nearly notched a triple-double, recording 16 points, ten rebounds, and eight assists. Three other Falcons scored in double figures including Julia Susla (13), Ramie Reid (14), and Savannah Cook (11).

Savannah Cook drew first blood, cashing in a layup ten seconds in. After the Firehawks took a brief lead, Elisa Saffold scored the next seven points for UM, as the Falcons led 9-5 at the 7:58 mark. Montevallo began to roll, going on a 10-2 run to take a double-digit lead, 19-8, at the 5:04 mark. The Firehawks would stop the run, but a pair of three-pointers by Julia Susla and Saffold put UM up, 25-12, with 3:25 left on the clock. A pair of lay-ins by Jordan Gillies and Susla a few minutes later gave the Falcons a, 29-16, lead at the end of the first quarter. Saffold concluded the first quarter with 15 first quarter points.

Ramie Reid opened the scoring in the second quarter with a lay-in less than 30 seconds in, extending the UM lead to 15. The Firehawks responded with a 5-0 run, cutting the deficit to, 31-21, at the 8:06 mark. Reid stopped the UT Southern run with an and-one. Cook followed that up with a three-pointer to put Montevallo up, 37-24, at the 3:24 mark. The Firehawks continued to fight, cutting the UM lead down to single digits, 37-29, with 2:41 left. Susla closed the scoring for the Falcons with an and-one, as Montevallo took a 41-34 lead at the break.

Both teams traded baskets to open the second half, as UM held a, 45-37, lead at the 8:32 mark. Reid continued to dominate down low, notching a pair of lay-ins, including an and-one to put the Falcons back up by double digits, 50-37, at the 7:51 mark. The Firehawks outscored the Falcons 9-3 through the next three minutes to cut the deficit to, 53-46, with 4:20 left on the clock. Lay-ins from Isabel Grimes and Gillies would put the Falcons back up by double digits, 57-47, at the 2:19 mark. After a UT Southern layup, Gillies scored the final four points of the quarter to give Montevallo a, 61-49, advantage heading into the final ten minutes.

Grimes opened the quarter with a free-throw and the next two UM baskets came from Olivia Johnigan as the Falcons led, 66-51, at the 8:23 mark. Saffold began to heat up again in the fourth quarter, cashing in on a lay-in and a three-pointer, as Montevallo extended its lead, 71-53, at the 7:13 mark. After a UT Southern three-pointer, the Falcons went on an 11-0 run, highlighted by three-pointers from Saffold and Gillies, to give UM the 81-56 advantage, seemingly putting the game away with 4:53 left on the clock. The Falcons held on in the final minutes to take home the 94-67 victory at home.

GAME INFORMATION
Score: Montevallo 94 | UT Southern 67
Records: Montevallo 2-3 (0-0 GSC) | UT Southern 3-2 (2-1 SSAC)
Location: Central State Bank Arena | Montevallo, Ala.

GAME NOTES

• The 94 points scored by the Falcons represent the most points scored by UM since Dec. 17., 2019.
• Montevallo outshot UT Southern 51.4 percent to 36.9 percent.
• Five Falcons scored in double figures.
• Elisa Saffold scored a season-high 25 points.
• Jordan Gillies nearly secured a triple-double, recording 16 points, ten rebounds, and eight assists.