Box Score Behind an 18-point effort from Lauren Biliter, the No. 13 Maryville College Scots defeated the Meredith College Avenging Angels 70-41 in the first-round of the 2016 USA South Athletic Conference women's basketball championships hosted on the Maryville College campus.
The Scots flexed their defensive muscle allowing only six and seven points respectively in the first and second quarters. Maryville pulled out to a 34-13 halftime lead, holding Meredith to a 14-percent shooting effort (3-for-22). The Scots deposited 13 of their 32 first half shots (41-percent) to claim the 21-point advantage.
The Avenging Angels had a much better second half hitting 28-percent from the field, while Maryville struggled on the boards also shooting only 37-percent from the floor. Both teams could not find their perimeter attack and Meredith finished the game with a 46-43 rebound advantage over the Scots.
Maryville's defense forced 24 turnovers to help secure the first-round victory.
Meredith (8-18) finishes their season behind the standout rebounding of Raven Gregory and Kim Hinton. Gregory hauled down a game-high 12 rebounds while Hinton cleaned the glass on 10 occasions. Jessi Hayes paced the Angels in scoring with 16 points.
Maryville (22-3) advances to the semi-final game against LaGrange after Biliter went 6-for-12 from the field and 4-of-9 from beyond the arc for a game-high 18-points. USA South player of the year Mackenzie Puckett added 15 points on 5-of-13 shooting. Senior post player Linley Dunn pulled down 11 of MC's 43 total boards.
"It was key to get an early lead and be able to get some other players some opportunities on the floor while resting Puckett and others key contributors so they can be fresh over this tough potential three-game run," stated MC Head Coach Darrin Travillian. "From the beginning of the season Lauren Biliter has been showing these types of flashes and since Mindy Brackins went down with an injury she has stepped up to being a complete player capable of having performances like this night in and night out."
The Scots will advance to host LaGrange in Friday's semi-final matchup slated for 7:00 p.m. The Panthers defeated Greensboro on a last-second basket by the score of 56-54 to advance in the tournament. In the other side of the bracket, Ferrum College defeated Methodist University 60-53 before Piedmont College eliminated Averett University 83-66 earlier in the day.
Friday's semi-finals will begin at 5:00 p.m. in MC's Cooper Athletic Center. #2 Piedmont College will host #3 Ferrum College. The nightcap at 7:00 p.m. will feature #1 Maryville College challenging #4 LaGrange College.
