Box Score The Maryville College women's basketball squad relied on a consistent long-distance attack where all five starters deposited treys, including six by junior Shelby Hix, to help the Scots defeat USA South foe Brevard College 68-66 in Brevard, North Carolina on Tuesday evening.
MC posted a 22-20 first-quarter advantage after Hix went 3-for-4 from beyond the arc. The Scots shot over 61-percent from the floor including an amazing 6-for-7 (85-percent) from the perimeter. Brevard kept pace with a successful inside attack hitting 44-percent from the floor while outrebounding Maryville 10-5.
The Tornados closed the gap with a 10-0 run transitioning into the second quarter. Maryville's defense allowed only 10 points in the second stanza forcing a 3-for-13 effort from the floor. A trio of three-pointers provided MC's only scoring before the half. The Scots went to the intermission leading 35-30 following an Elsa Eckenrod buzzer-beater from downtown.
Key baskets by Shelby Hix and Kelley Wandell highlighted MC's 18-15 scoring third quarter that featured a 47-percent shooting effort from the floor.
An eight-point lead into the final quarter dwindled to a 61-61 tie with four minutes remaining. A Kelley Wandell offensive rebound and basket with just under three minutes remaining gave MC a 64-62 lead. A pair of key rebounds by Wandell and a layup by Klaire Varney set the stage for a missed last-second shot to preserve the Scots' hard-fought league road victory.
Brevard (5-9, 3-5 USA South) was paced by Shakirah Thompson's 14-point effort. Destiny Williams added 13 points and eight rebounds while Deja Riddick tossed in a dozen points.
Maryville (12-4, 5-2 USA South) finished 14-for-23 from beyond the arc (61-percent) while connecting on 46-percent of their shots from the floor. Shelby Hix went 6-for-7 from three-point land for a game-high 18 points. Klaire Varney had a complete-game effort with 15 points, six rebounds, six assists, and three steals. Elsa Eckenrod dropped a trio of treys for 11 points while Kelley Wandell cleaned up in the paint with eight points and a game-high 10 rebounds.
The Scots will continue with their league schedule on Sunday, January 19th when they travel to Wesleyan College (Ga.) for a 2:00 p.m. tipoff.
