ATLANTA—Taylor Smith and Carley Bell scored 11 points apiece, but the Oglethorpe women's basketball team lost its Southern Athletic Association opener to Berry, 55-41, Saturday night in Dorough Field House.

The Stormy Petrels scored the first nine points of the game and held the visiting Vikings scoreless until near the three-minute mark of the first quarter, but Berry answered with a 12-2 run to take the lead. Oglethorpe continued to battle and had an 18-15 lead at the halftime break, but Berry once again answered with a 20-10 run over the third quarter to go into the lead for good.

After Smith and Bell, Ellie Ronan had a solid game with eight points and career highs of 11 rebounds and two blocks. Sydni Donovan followed with seven points, and Emma Perna earned a career high five steals.

Up next, Oglethorpe plays Huntington and Southern Virginia on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 17-18, back here at Dorough Field House. It will be the last two games of the 2021 leg of the season as the Petrels will not return to play again until the new year.