Box Score Maryville's Mackenzie Puckett proved why she was named Pre-Season All-American on Sunday afternoon.
Puckett – a forward for Maryville – led the No. 13 Scots to a 58-51 victory over Centre College, as the squad opened the season. The 5-foot-11 senior posted 21 points, four rebounds, three assists two steals and a block in the victory, while shooting 50 percent from the floor.
Puckett accomplished the feat after only one week of practice during the MC preseason, as she was cleared only a week ago after recovering from an injury.
The forward found her 18th career 20-plus-point game, playing only 25 minutes of the 40-minute contest.
"I'm pleased with our defensive effort today," Maryville College Head Coach Darrin Travillian said. "We consistently had them in short shot clocks. To be elite, we have to rebound better on the defensive end. Offensively, we shared the ball very well and really executed down the stretch. Centre is such as well-coached team that they make you improve and learn about your team. I'm thrilled to get this road victory."
Maryville trailed 17-16 to the Colonels after the first quarter, as transfer forward Allyson Freiermuth played a big role in the paint, scoring four of MC's total. Mindy Brackins and Joanna Young each added three.
However, Maryville would hold the Colonels to only seven second-quarter points, taking a 27-24 lead the break. Puckett and Brackins played a big part in the second quarter to help Maryville to the lead.
After the break, Puckett came out firing, helping Maryville to a 19-point quarter. Puckett led Maryville to their biggest quarter of the night with a perfect 4-for-4 outing from the floor, while bucketing two treys. The senior scored 11 of Maryville's 19 points to give the Scots a 46-37 lead going to the final stanza.
Centre College – led by Abigail Stewart and Alexis Guy – would make a little headway in the final quarter, as the Colonels outscored MC 14-12. However, Puckett and Hawn would each post four points to seal Maryville's victory in their season opener.
Brackins followed Puckett's outing as the only other double-digit scoring for Maryville. She had 10 points, while sophomore Rachel Hawn tallied eight on 4-of-5 shooting. Linley Dunn and Freiermuth each added six, while Freiermuth tallied six rebounds, two assists and a block. Joanna Young had three points, while Lauren Biliter and Abby Navarro had two each. Jordan Ballard led the Scots with five assists and five steals on the afternoon to go with four rebounds and a block.
For Centre College, it was a multi-person effort. Guy had 12 points to lead the Colonels, while Stewart and Katie Moore each tallied eight. Caroline Andreassen and Day Vance had six apiece, while Vance led the squad with 10 boards.
Maryville goes to 1-0 on the young season, and they will to North Central College for the Chicago Marriott Napierville Tip-Off Classic on Nov. 20. First touch is slated for 3:30 p.m. eastern time.
