GEORGETOWN, Texas – With a 77-73 win over Centre College on Friday night the Southwestern women's basketball team held onto their first place lead in the West. The Pirates improve to 13-4 on the year and 5-3 in the SCAC while Centre drops to 11-6 overall and 5-3 in the conference.

The Pirates built a lead throughout the first half by driving through the lane for layups and hitting from outside when the lane was defended, shooting 42.4% from the field and 41.7% from three point range. Centre was able to stay in the game with second chances, accumulating 12 offensive rebounds in the first half to the Pirates' six. Southwestern went into halftime with a five point lead, 39-34.

Southwestern was careless with the ball and let Centre back in the game. A layup by Maggie Prewitt gave Centre the lead at the halfway mark of the second half for the first time since the opening minutes and then followed it with consecutive scores to lead by six, 60-54 with 8:52 to play.

Fastbreak lay-ups by both teams kept the game close and Centre took a slight three point lead, 65-62 with just under six minutes remaining.

Shae Seagraves' (pictured) three pointer gave Southwestern the lead back, 67-65, with four minutes to go and after a Centre jumper the teams traded free throws to lock up the game at 68-68 with two minutes left.

As the clock ticked down Southwestern got two big breakaways to pull ahead for good. Anna Fareed heaved the ball down court to a streaking Chelsea Leeder and after a defensive stop Leeder returned the favor by finding Fareed who was fouled on the layup. Fareed made 1-2 to give SU a crucial four point lead, 72-68, with 40 ticks left on the clock.

Centre pulled back within one, 72-71, on the next possession with a three pointer by Alyson Burke, but the Pirates closed out the game from the free throw line and locked down defensively for the 77-73 victory.

Seagraves exploded for 16 points in the second half to end as the leading scorer for Southwestern with 22 points. Leeder added in 18 while Fareed contributed 11 and Mullins had 10. Leeder led in rebounds, pulling down 10 boards for a double-double on the night. Centre's Prewitt led the Colonels with 22 points.

The Pirates remain in first place with the win and face East leading DePauw on Saturday night at 6:00pm.