Box Score The No. 20 Maryville College women's basketball team used a 14-0 run late in the first half to pull away and secure a victory over Huntingdon College by the score of 56-45 in a key USA South challenge on Saturday evening in MC's Boydson Baird Gymnasium.
The Scots' defensive effort held the Hawks to a 17% shooting effort (6-for-35) before intermission. A 15-15 game at the nine-minute mark exploded into a 29-15 MC advantage with key baskets by Alex Bond and Mindy Brackins with Lauren Trent adding a three-pointer. Maryville went to the locker room up 29-17 after hitting only 32% from the floor, but taking advantage of nine Hawk turnovers.
Huntingdon out paced the Scots 28-27 in the second half, but could not overcome MC's first half run. The Hawks closed the game hitting 33% from the floor while Maryville could not find their touch connecting on only a 29% from the floor.
Huntingdon (12-10, 6-7 USA South) was led by Pat Pickens' 15 points on 7-of-22 shooting. Tan Munford paced all players on the boards with a game-high 10 rebounds.
Maryville (20-2, 12-1 USA South) used a complete game by senior Alex Bond. Bond finished with a game-high 19 points on 8-of-12 shooting while grabbing seven rebounds and recording five steals. Sophomore Mindy Brackins hit a pair of treys to finish with 14 points. Mackenzie Puckett and Jordan Ballard led MC on the boards with eight rebounds each. Joanna Young added seven rebounds. Ballard dished out a team-high six assists while Puckett swatted away a team record eight blocked shots.
The Scots will look to secure their hold on first place in the USA South standings when they host LaGrange College on Sunday. Tip-off on Randy Lambert Court is scheduled for 3:00.
