Southern Virginia outscored Mary Baldwin 27-13 in the fourth quarter Tuesday night to take a 72-57 victory in a USA South Athletic Conference women's basketball contest.

Mary Baldwin, playing the contest withur starting forward Hannah Varner and key bench performer Mya Coleman, led 16-15 after one quarter, but the Knights took the lead late in the second quarter and went to the break with a 29-26 advantage.

The visitors maintained the lead unti Mary Baldwin guard Demet Saygili knocked down a 3-pointer to put the Fighting Squirrels up 43-41 with 2:48 remaining in the third quarter. Saygili added a free throw before the Knights pulled evan at 44-44 on a three-point play by Anna Singer. Addison Newman added 1-of-2 at the foul line, giving SVU a one-point, 45-44, lead entering the fourth quarter. 

Southern Virginia opened the fourth quarter with an 8-0 spurt to lead 53-44 with 8:09 left in the game. A short jumper by MBU forward A'Cetta Farrait stopped he Knights' run, but SVU center Katie Garrish added 1-of-2 at the line, making the score 54-46. MBU's Farrait and Southern Virginia's Emma Camden traded hoops before a layup by Jalen Gathers pulled the Squirrels to within 56-50 with 6:06 left to play.

The visitors then went on a 6-2 spurt to push the lead to double figures, 62-52, with 2:45 left in the game. A 3-pointer by Mekayla Clarke pulled MBU to within seven 64-57, but the Knights scored the game's final eight points to close out the victory. 

Gathers scored 16 points to lead three MBU players in double figures. Saygili scored 14 points and Farrait added 10 points.

The loss was the second straight for Mary Baldwin, now 4-2 overall and 0-2 in conference play. Mary Baldwin returns to action on Monday when the Squirrels travel to Roanoke College for a non-conference contest.