Box Score Maryville's seven-game win streak came to an end on Wednesday night, as the Piedmont Lady Lions used a come-from-behind run to thwart MC's efforts at a perfect USA South season, 61-54.
The Lady Lions used a 46.0 percent (23-of-50) effort from the floor, while bucketing 7-of-13 (53.8 percent) from beyond the arc to end Maryville's streak. The Scots could only muster a 33.3 percent effort (17-of-51), while shooting 6-of-19 (31.6 percent) from 3-point range.
Piedmont used a late run in the first half in order to cut Maryville's 18-12 first-quarter lead to only one points, 29-28. The Scots used a 38.5 percent effort from the floor, while shooting 83.3 percent from the charity stripe in the first half to outscore the Lions.
Piedmont, however, shot 37 percent, while bucketing 50 percent from both the 3-point line and the free-throw line. Maryville crashed the boards, out-rebounding Piedmont 25-11 after the first half. The Scots tallied nine second-chance points behind three offensive rebounds.
Madison Maples and Lauren Biliter both tallied nine points in the first half, as Maples bucketed 3-of-5 from beyond the arc. Biliter shot 4-of-6 (66.7 percent) from the floor, while also knocking down a long-range shot.
Piedmont opened the third quarter with a 7-2 run to regain the lead over the Scots. With 7:00 remaining in the period, the Lions held a 35-31 lead before a pair of free throws by Allyson Freiermuth but the lead in half, 35-33, with 6:19 showing. A trey by Maples at 5:51 put MC on top, before the two squads would trade lead changes for most of the third quarter. Piedmont could come out on top, leading 43-42 going to the final stanza.
Piedmont posted a 14-5 run to take a 59-51 lead at the 1:30 mark in the fourth quarter, after Maryville led 46-45. Mackenzie Puckett cut the lead to five with 1:16 left in the game with a long trey, but it wouldn't be enough.
Puckett led the way for Maryville (15-3, 8-1 USA South), scoring 15 points on 5-of-6 shooting. Maples tallied 14 points, while having six rebounds, three steals, an assist and four treys. Freiermuth had 11 points, while pulling down a team-high seven bards. Biliter had nine points, while Rachel Hawn and Linley Dunn each added two points. Jordan Ballard had one point on the night.
The Scots out rebounded the Lady Lions 43-25, but Maryville could only find eight assists in the game.
Piedmont (16-4, 11-0) was led by a 12-point effort from Mary Kate Rushton, while Le'Shaunda Jones and Brianna Barrett each had 10 points. Rushton and Barrett led Piedmont with five boards each, as Carlie Shields had a game-high four assists.
Maryville will look to get back to their winning ways on Friday night, as the Scots host Ferrum College in a USA South Athletic competition. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m.
