Box Score Maryville College advanced to the USA South Championship game on Friday afternoon, as the downed the Cougars of Averett University, 69-63.
After a back-and-forth contest that saw 14 ties and 12 lead changes, Maryville took control in the second half, shooting 50 percent in the third quarter. However, Maryville posted an impressive 15-of-19 (78.9 percent) from the charity stripe to secure the close win during the second half.
The Scots tallied 13 offensive rebounds in the second half, as Allyson Freiermuth went off in the contest. The senior forward tallied an impressive double-double behind 21 points and 18 rebounds. She pulled down an incredible 10 offensive boards, while shooting 7-of-14 (50 percent) from the field. Freiermuth also shot 7-of-11 from the charity stripe.
Maryville shot just 36.5 percent (23-of-63) from the floor, while scoring four treys. However, the Scots outrebounded Averett, 46-37, while pulling down 20 offensive boards. The Scots' turned that into 14 second-chance points, while scoring 32 points in the paint.
Maryville (23-4) advances to face Piedmont College in a rematch of the 2015-16 USA South Championship game. The game also marks Maryville's third-consecutive USA South Championship game appearance.
Tipoff for the coveted game is slated for 3 p.m.
Freiermuth led the way with her astonishing performance, as she added three steals and a block. Lauren Biliter added 16 points with eight boards, four assists, a steal and a block, as Haley Talbott totaled 11 points and six rebounds.
Rachel Hawn scored nine points with seven rebounds, while Amber Hudgens added four points. Libby Gardner and Delaney Lowery each had three points, while Gardner had a game-high eight assists. Brittany Johnson had two points and three assists in the game.
For Averett (18-9), Samm Chandler led the way with 20 points, seven rebounds, four steals and an assist. Frida Lundquist scored 15 points, while Alixis Roccia had a double-double 11 points and 11 rebounds. Brooke Carthon added 11 points and six boards off the bench for the Cougars.
