Box Score Sophomore Leads All With 33 Points
BREVARD, N.C. – Jordan Heifner had one of the best days of her career in an important 75-71 USA South win over Brevard as the Scots battle for position in the final stretch of league play.
Heifner's career-high 33 are the most points scored for Maryville since Nov. 12, 2019, when Courtney Carruthers dropped 38 against Emory & Henry.
The visiting team needed the high-scoring effort as the game was close wire-to-wire. It was the type of game the Scots are all too familiar with.
"We finally found a way to finish one of these grinds," said Maryville head coach Darrin Travillian.
Back-to-back baskets from Elsa Eckenrod began the contest before the Tornadoes answered back with a three. The lead changed four times in the first 10 minutes of action, which set the pace for the entire game.
The Scots held onto the lead from 3:30 remaining in the first quarter until the 6:14 mark of the second. After Brevard took a one-point lead, Heifner sunk a three to begin a 9-0 run. The sophomore tied her career-best in 3-pointers made with four in the game.
A Tornadoes layup stopped the run with the score at 29-23. Brevard put together a 9-0 run of their own after two MC free throws. The stretch had the Tornadoes going into the locker room up two at the half.
Fight to the Finish
Maryville tied the game again less than 30 seconds into the third quarter. The lead changed three times in under a minute with the Scots pulling even yet again at 40-all.
Brevard went on a 7-0 run after the tie. A Heifner three stopped the scoring streak before back-to-back baskets for the Tornadoes gave them the largest lead of the game for the home squad at 51-43.
Maryville continued to battle, despite falling behind BC. It was something their coach said kept them in the game.
"I'm really proud of our resolve, especially after Brevard pushed out to an eight-point lead," said Travillian.
In the fourth, the Scots pulled back within two with 9:29 left in regulation, before tying the game at 55-all just over a minute later. It was Heifner who gave Maryville the lead back with a layup pushing the Scots ahead 59-57. The layup kicked off a streak of seven consecutive points for the visiting team.
"The decision-making and toughness in the fourth made all of the difference," Travillian said. "We showed the ability to execute down the stretch, which we've so desperately needed."
With the Tornadoes unable to catch up they were forced to foul. Maryville used consistent shooting at the line to move the lead to nine. Free throws were key for the Scots the entire contest as the team made a season-high 21 from the charity stripe on 29 attempts, which was another MC season-high. Maryville held on from that point and won 75-71 to avenge the loss to Brevard last week.
Maryville only had four players score with all hitting double-digits. Behind Heifner was Hannah Jones with 15 points followed by Eckenrod with 14 and Carruthers with 13. Jones led the rebounding effort for MC with eight and hit career-highs in blocks and free throws made with five in each category. The eight blocks were the second-most for the team all season.
As a team, the Scots outpaced the Tornadoes in points off turnovers 21-19 and fastbreak points 20-14.
Maryville moves to 10-13 overall and 6-8 in the USA South which places them fifth in the west as of Sunday evening. Huntingdon sits behind the Scots with a 5-8 conference record and is currently playing LaGrange, who is slotted in at third.
