The #23 Briar Cliff women's basketball team defended home court as they knocked off #19 Jamestown 59-56 in a thriller Saturday afternoon in the Newman Flanagan Center. The Chargers move to 19-7 (15-5 GPAC) and are tied with the Jimmies for the No. 2 seed in the conference standings.
 
The first 10 minutes was a battle of momentum. The Chargers opened the contest with a 7-2 scoring run, but Jamestown roared back with a 14-4 run of their own. Briar Cliff kept the game close by converting 5-of-6 attempts from the free throw line. Heading into the second quarter, the Chargers trailed by a slim three points.
 
The second quarter was a battle, as neither team was able to build up a lead. Madelyn Deitchler and Payton Slaughter combined for 11 of the Chargers 13 points scored in the quarter. The Cliff trailed by five points heading into the halftime break.
 
Briar Cliff came out fired up in the third quarter as they outscored Jamestown 20-9. The Chargers finished the quarter on a 16-3 scoring run fueled by Konnor Sudmann's nine points in the quarter. The Charger defense held the Jimmies scoreless for over five minutes of the quarter. BC grabbed a 48-42 lead heading into the final 10 minutes.
 
The Jimmies chipped away at the lead behind Hannah DeMars' 10 points in the fourth, but the Cliff fended off any Jamestown comeback effort as they sunk 5-of-8 free throw attempts and forced four Jimmie turnovers. The Chargers went on to win a close thrilling contest 59-56, awarding them their 15th conference win this season.
 
Konnor Sudmann had a team-high 22 points to go along with six rebounds and a steal. Madelyn Deitchler nearly recorded a double-double as she posted 16 points, nine rebounds, two assists and a steal.

Payton Slaughter added 10 points, seven rebounds and four steals while Peyton Wingert and Kennedy Benne scored six and five points, respectively.
 
The Charger women return to action next Wednesday evening as they travel to Seward, Nebraska to take on the Bulldogs of Concordia at 6:00 p.m.