Box Score Key late three-pointers by Shelby Hix and Elsa Eckenrod completed a 53-49 come-from-behind victory for Maryville College over Covenant College on Saturday afternoon in USA South Athletic Conference action.
Covenant was looking to snap a 19-game losing streak against the Scots since the 2011-12 season after taking advantage of 16 first-half MC turnovers that led to a 16-14 Covenant advantage into halftime.
Kelley Wandell and Courtney Carruthers deposited the only MC field goals in the first period after Maryville went 2-for-12 (16-percent) from the floor. MC's stingy defense allowed Covenant a 3-for-14 connection rate for the 7-4 first-quarter advantage.
Maryville's defensive intensity continued holding the Georgian Scots to a 1-for-10 effort from the floor in the second quarter. The Scots outpaced the visitors 10-9 with key baskets from Hannah Seals, Jordan Heifner, and Carruthers.
Maryville doubled up Covenant 22-11 in the third stanza behind 14 bench points from the trio of Carruthers, Meredith Ward, and Hannah Jones. Shelby Hix and Elsa Eckenrod connected on key treys to give the Scots a 36-27 lead going into the final period. The Maryville rally was paced by a 4-for-6 effort from long distance that included 57-percent shooting from the floor (8-for-14).
Covenant staged a strong comeback in the fourth quarter behind Ruthie Moore, Destiny Mergilles, and Cosette Kirsch's combined 19 points.
The nine-point Maryville advantage dwindled to 41-40 before Shelby Hix dropped a three-pointer at the 5:30 mark. At 2:57, Maryville led only 46-45 before Elsa Eckenrod helped MC pull away with a trey. A key basket by Jordan Heiffner and a pair of free throws by Courtney Carruthers secured the win for Maryville.
"We made a couple of big baskets towards the end to push us over the top," stated MC Head Coach Darrin Travillian. "You saw the trap of playing opponents back-to-back. When you have a game like we did yesterday, it's like 'fool's gold' thinking you can just repeat. That ignited the other team. They outrebounded us and won the battle of turnovers. You can see they came out and played harder, but we answered the call just enough in the second half for the conference win."
Covenant (1-13, 0-6 USA South) was led by Ruthie Moore's 13 points and eight rebounds. Destiny Mergilles added 11 points and nine boards while Cosette Kirsch tallied 10 points. Mary Elaine Mitchell finished with nine points and five rebounds helping Covenant beat MC on the boards 44-38.
Maryville (4-0, 4-0 USA South) pushed their win streak over the Scots to 20 with Courtney Carruthers posting a game-high 16 points on 6-of-14 shooting. Jordan Heifner added 10 points, four steals, and four rebounds while Shelby Hix dropped nine points while grabbing a team-high seven rebounds. MC finished the game hitting 38-percent from the floor going 19-for-49.
The Scots will return to action next weekend when they host USA South foe Agnes Scott College. Tip-off on Friday, February 5th is slated for 6:00 p.m. in Maryville's Boydson Baird Gymnasium.
