Box Score Maryville College's comeback surge fell just short on Wednesday night, as Piedmont College kept their unblemished USA South record with a 71-68 win.
The Lions built a 13-point lead, 62-49, with 8:33 left in the game, as the Scots would find a rally. Maryville outscored Piedmont, 17-6, over the next eight minutes that included an 8-1 stretch for the Scots.
Klaire Varney scored seven points on a pair of treys in the run, while Libby Gardner and Elsa Eckenrod each added a triple in the run.
Piedmont would go 3-for-4 from the free-throw line in the final 28 seconds, however, to hold on for the three-point victory.
Following the first half, Maryville held a slight 34-31 lead. The Scots saw Catherine Upshaw lead the way with 10 first-half points, as the senior guard went 4-for-6 from the floor with a pair of 3-pointers.
The first half was a back-and-forth affair that saw a total of 10 lead changes and 10 ties. However, a Piedmont run in the third quarter would extend the Lions' lead in the second half.
Piedmont found a 12-3 run that gave them a 43-37 lead. They would extend that lead to 12, before Maryville rallied.
The Scots (6-9, 4-2 USA South) were led by Varney's double-double of 21 points and 10 rebounds. She added six assists, three steals and a block, as the sophomore bucketed a trio of treys.
Gardner – a junior – had 19 points and six assists. She also added three 3-pointers to go along with four rebounds and four steals. Upshaw added 12 points, while Eckenrod had nine points and seven boards.
Shelby Hix had eight rebounds and two points, while Kelley Wandell added seven boards. Holland Jerrolds and Delaney Lowery had two points each, as Erin Beasley added one point.
Maryville shot 23-of-66 (34.8 percent) from the floor, as they made nine treys at a 25.7 percent clip. The Scots were hindered by a 13-of-23 effort at the free-throw line – a 56.5 percent performance.
Piedmont (13-3, 7-0) shot 41.5 percent (27-of-65) from the floor with six 3-pointers.
The Lions were led by Amari Price's 25 points, eight assists and four rebounds. Jatasia Bailey and Abbey Craven added 10 points each, while Hope Franklin had 11 rebounds and nine points. Rachel Irby added 10 rebounds.
Maryville will return to action this weekend, as they host a pair of USA South challenges. The Scots take on Brevard College on Saturday, Jan. 12 at 4 p.m., before they host Berea College on Sunday, Jan. 13 at 2 p.m.
