Box Score The Maryville College Scots outshot Berea College on Wednesday night, but the Mountaineers escaped with a 70-56 USA South victory in Berea, Ky.
Maryville posted a 42.3-percent effort from the floor, as Berea shot 36.8 percent overall. However, a big first quarter lifted the Mountaineers to the conference win.
Abbi Joseph led the Scots in both points and rebounds, as the freshman tallied 14 points and seven boards. Klaire Varney added 13 points, while Courtney Carruthers posted a dozen points off the bench.
MC jumped ahead, on a 6-2 run early in the first quarter. However, Berea would outpace the Scots, 17-9 in the opening stanza to take a 36-30 lead to the half.
The two squads went nearly equal in the third quarter, as the Mountaineers used a 21-14 fourth quarter to secure the conference win.
Maryville (8-4, 2-2 USA South) went 22-of-52 (42.3 percent) from the floor, while adding in six 3-pointers at a 40-percent clip. The Scots struggled at the free-throw line, going 6-of-13 for a 46.2-percent effort.
Berea (9-2, 3-0) went 16-of-19 (84.2 percent) from the charity line, while shooting 25-of-68 from the floor. The Mountaineers added four treys on the day at a 33.3-percent rate.
Maryville was outrebounded, 50-26, while the Scots' defense held Berea to just eight second-chance points.
Joseph led the Scots with her 14 points and seven rebounds, as she added a pair of blocks to her credit. Varney had 13 points, four rebounds, three assists and three steals, while Carruthers had 12 points, four assists, a rebound, a steal and a block.
Elsa Eckenrod totaled eight points, three rebounds, two assists and a steal, as Kelley Wandell had four points, six rebounds, three blocks and a steal off the bench. Libby Gardner had three points, four assists, two steals and a rebound, as Shelby Hix added two points and a rebound.
For Berea, it was Bailee Vanover and Aaliyah Hampton who had 16 points each. Vanover had seven rebounds, three assists, a steal and a block, while Hampton posted a trio of steals. Destiny Combs had 11 points and seven rebounds, while Bethanie Williams added 11 points and five boards.
Maryville College will have the Christmas break off, before they return to action on Wednesday, Jan. 1. The Scots will host non-conference foe Sewanee at 2:00 p.m.
