Box Score Maryville College's Head Coach Darrin Travillian came one step closer to history on Friday night, as the sixth-year head coach pulled to within one win of tying Wes Moore for the winningest women's basketball coach in MC history.
Travillian's squad used a strong second half on Friday, earning a 56-46 victory over USA South foe Methodist University.
The win brings Travillian's record to 128-30, only one win behind Moore's 129-35 record between 1987 and 1993.
"Obviously, chasing Coach Moore's record is really about all the great players we both hand and what they accomplished here at Maryville College," Travillian said. "Coach is a legend in our profession, so I know the standard he set for every coach who has followed him. Coach C.J. Dake has been all over the record for a while now, which is exactly what I would expect from the assistant coach with the most wins in our program's history."
Travillian will have his chance to tie Moore tomorrow, as the Scots host Greensboro College inside Boydson Baird Gymnasium at 4 p.m.
On Friday night, however, the Scots had to overcome a sluggish first half, as Maryville held only a 27-22 advantage at the break. The first quarter saw Maryville posted only a 27.8 percent effort from the floor, bucketing only 5-of-18 shots. They improved that mark in the second quarter, going 5-of-10, to maintain their five-point lead after the first period.
Maryville would only muster nine points in the third stanza, as Methodist would cut the Scots' advantage to only three, 36-33.
MC's defensive pressure stepped in during the final quarter, though, as Joanna Young would knock away three steals, while adding three assists and two points. Mackenzie Puckett and Madison Maples would each drop seven points, as Maryville out-paced the Monarchs 20-13 in the final quarter behind a 45.5 percent shooting clip.
Puckett led all scorers in the game, while posting 16 points for the Scots (14-2, 7-0 USA South). She had nine rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocks to go with her 5-of-10 shooting.
Maples added 13 points, while Young tallied 11 points, six steals, four assists and two rebounds in the victory.
Allyson Freiermuth had six points and a game-high 11 rebounds, while Lauren Biliter added four points. Jordan Ballard had two points, four steals, four rebounds and two assists, while Rachel Hawn and Abby Navarro each chipped in a duo of points.
Maryville shot 34 percent (18-of-53) from the floor, while bucketing 5-of-18 (27.8 percent) from beyond the perimeter. The Scots converted 15-of-25 free throws in order to seal the victory.
Methodist (10-5, 5-2) was led by Jasmine Canady's 12-point effort, while Sydney Bryan added 11 points off the bench. Jalisia Campbell had eight points to go with a game-high 11 boards for the Monarchs. Alexis Wallace also added nine points and nine rebounds.
Methodist shot 36 percent (18-of-50) from the floor, while knocking down 3-of-8 treys.
With the victory, the Scots and Piedmont (8-0) are the only teams with a spotless record in conference action. Both squads play on Saturday, before facing each other on Wednesday, Feb. 3. Tipoff for that game is set for 5:30 p.m.
