Box Score The Maryville College Scots moved to 8-0 in the USA South Athletic Conference Western Division on Friday night, but not without a thrilling finish inside Boydson Baird Gymnasium, 64-62.
The Scots held 50-37 lead going into the fourth quarter, but a 25-point fourth quarter left the game knotted at 62-all with just 44 ticks to go. However, Maryville found a surge off an Allyson Freiermuth free throw with 5 second remaining, before Lauren Biliter collected the offensive rebound on her next miss. Biliter was fouled, going 1-for-2.
With 2 second remaining, LaGrange would move the ball to half court with a timeout and a chance for a last-second attempt. Riley Chlupacek heaved a trey just before the buzzer, as Biliter came through with a huge block to secure the conference victory, 64-62.
Maryville moved to 16-3 overall, while holding an unblemished conference record. The Scots host Huntingdon College tomorrow in hopes of continuing their nine-game win streak. Maryville downed the Hawks, 48-45, in Montgomery, Ala. earlier this season.
Tipoff is slated for 6 p.m.
Maryville fought off early struggles on the floor – after shooting 37.9 percent in the first half – to end the game at a 43.1 percent shooting clip. The Scots shot 22-of-51 for the game, while connecting on six treys – five of those coming in the first half.
A 73.7 percent effort at the charity stripe helped earn the win, as Maryville went 14-of-19. LaGrange went just 12-of-21 (57.1 percent) at the stripe, while missing two key technical foul free throws late in the fourth quarter.
Maryville saw Biliter not only come through with the game-winning block, but also lead the squad offensively. The junior tallied 17 points to go with six rebounds, four assists, one steal and the key block.
Freiermuth added 12 points, six boards, two assists and a steal to the efforts, while Rachel Hawn finished with a near double-double. The junior forward had eight points, 10 rebounds, three steals and two assists for a complete game.
Madison Maples added eight points on 2-of-5 shooting from beyond the arc, while Libby Gardner had five points, five assists, four rebounds, a steal and a block. Talbott matched Gardner's five-point effort, while Delaney Lowery had four points and three boards. Lecretia Robbins had three points on a 1-for-1 effort from the 3-point line, while Brittany Johnson added two points and two assists.
For LaGrange (9-9, 4-4 USA South), it was Marilauren Farr that led the way with 18 points and four rebounds. Lauren Johnson had 12 points, while Kymberli Payno had 11 points and nine rebounds off the bench for the Panthers. Kelsey Walthall and Katelyn Powell led LaGrange with three assists each.
