Box Score Jordan Ballard stepped across the lane in front of Samm Chandler and a nearly-packed Boydson Baird Gymnasium, drawing a charge with 0.7 seconds remaining on the clock to advance Maryville College to the semi-finals with a 45-44 win over Averett.
In the first round of the USA South Athletic Conference Tournament, the Scots had built up a 16-point lead with 12:42 left in the first stanza, 20-4, before taking a 26-16 advantage to the locker room. The Cougars chiseled that lead away in the second half, however, going on a 10-0 run to diminish Maryville's lead to only one, 30-29, with 11:57 remaining on the clock.
"It's Division III's version of March Madness, and that's what it was," Maryville College Head Coach Darrin Travillian said. "We got out to that 20-4 lead, and we were never the same after that. Offensively, we were a little bit hesitant. We had some really good wide open looks that we didn't make. We had people in position to take shots that didn't take shots. Offensively, it was a total debacle."
An old fashioned 3-point play by Mindy Brackins would extend the Scots' advantage to 35-31, but it wouldn't be enough to keep the Cougars at bay.
With 5:55 showing on the clock, two free throws by Chandler would give Averett its first lead of the ball game, 36-35. A Rachel Hawn layup from Mackenzie Puckett would put Maryville back in the lead 37-36, as Hawn and Puckett would spur an MC run.
The duo combined for an 8-2 run – Maryville leading 43-38 at the 2:32 mark. Chandler put Averett back in striking distance, bucketing a free throw and a trey. The Cougars took a timeout, trailing 43-42 with 1:24 left.
Alex Bond bucketed a pair of free throws with 50 second remaining, before a layup by Averett's Frida Lundquist would make the score 45-44. That's when Ballard stepped in.
The junior guard allowed a turnover to give the Cougars a chance for the win with 14 second remaining. After a timeout, Chandler ran Averett's play, but Ballard redeemed herself, stepping in front of the 5-foot-10 freshman guard for the game-winning play.
The Scots fought off their worst shooting night of the season with their stingy defense. Maryville forced 16 Cougar turnovers, while posting nine steals and seven blocks in the contest.
Maryville only managed a 28.1 percent shooting night (16-of-57), while shooting just 4-of-22 (18.2 percent) from beyond the 3-point line. A 9-of-11 night at the charity stripe helped MC to gain the win, 45-44.
"Defensively, when you hold somebody to 44, you should win, but hopefully, you have more than 45 usually," Travillian said. "They took the lead there, and we managed to make enough plays. That was encouraging. If you're going to win at this time of the year, you're going to have to win a couple of games like this one. My hope is that we got that one out of the way."
The game also ranked as Maryville's fewest points this season, the previous low being a 53-48 win over Methodist on Jan. 26.
The Scots were led by Puckett's 12-point night, as the junior boasted six rebounds, three blocks, three assists and two steals. Lauren Trent added eight points, while Hawn totaled six points, six rebounds and a block.
Ballard tallied six points to go along with her game-winning stop, as well as six rebounds, four steals, three blocks and an assist. Brackins added six points, while Alex Bond totaled five points, five assists, two steals and a game-leading 11 rebounds. Linley Dunn had two points.
For the Cougars, it was all Chandler, who posted 16 points, eight rebounds, two blocks, two steals and an assist, while shooting 8-of-10 from the free-throw line. Brianna Taylor also had eight points for Averett.
The victory advances the Scots to the semifinals of the USA South Women's Basketball Tournament, where they will host Ferrum College tomorrow, Feb. 27, for a 7 p.m. tipoff. LaGrange will play Greensboro at 5 p.m.
