MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Eighth-seed Stillman College advanced past ninth-seed Blue Mountain Christian University, 63-56, Wednesday on day one of the Southern States Athletic Conference Women's Basketball Championships, presented by Newk's Eatery. 

Stillman will now play top-seed Loyola University at 4:30 p.m. Thursday in the SSAC quarterfinals at the Multiplex at Cramton Bowl. 

The Tigers erased a seven-point deficit, 18-15, at the end of the first quarter to take their first lead, 24-22, on a Thaniyah Marks layup midway through the second quarter. Stillman led by as many as five in the second quarter before entering halftime tied, 33-33. 

Stillman scored 20 of its points off BMCU's 16 turnovers. The Tigers led the entire second half beginning by out-scoring the Toppers, 30-23 in the second half, including 19-9 in the third quarter.

Alexandria Haymon led Stillman with 14 points and eight rebounds, while Kashara Preston scored 12. Farrah Pearson led all players with 11 rebounds and had nine points. 

Charnita Brooks scored 26 to lead the Toppers, with Crystin Guy adding 13 points. 

In the other game of the day, seventh-seed Brewton-Parker defeated tenth-seed Tennessee Southern, 68-57. 


Thursday, Feb. 29 at the Multiplex
Game 3: Women       #3 Mobile vs. #6 Point                                          9:00 am
Game 4: Women       #7 Brewton-Parker vs. #2 William Carey           12:30 pm
Game 5: Women       #8 Stillman vs. #1 Loyola                                     4:30 pm
Game 6: Women        #4 Faulkner vs. #5 Life                                           8:00 pm
 
Friday, Mar. 1 at the Multiplex
Game 7: Women        Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4            1:00 pm
Game 8: Women         Winner of Game 5 vs. Winner of Game 6            5:00 pm
 
Saturday, Mar. 2 at the Multiplex:
Championship Game: Women  Winner of Game 7 vs. Winner of Game 8         4:00pm