Box Score Big Second Quarter Lifts Maryville 84-52
LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, Ga. – On the night Maryville needed it most, the Scots put together one of their best and most complete games of the season in racing past Covenant 84-52.
The winner-take-all victory means Maryville claims the fifth and final seed from the Western Division for the USA South Conference Tournament, which starts Saturday. The Scots travel to Brevard for a 6 p.m. tip.
Elsa Eckenrod was part of a 13-0 run to begin the second quarter, swishing a 3-pointer from the wing to reach 1,000 points for her career. The senior finished with a game-high 19 points to lead four Scots in double figures.
"This was our most complete effort of the season on both ends of the floor," Maryville head coach Darrin Travillian said. "I like the way our players responded with their backs against the wall. We knew we needed to win Sunday, and we were able to rally in that fourth quarter to get that W. The effort carried over into tonight."
Free Throws & Turnovers
Maryville outscored the host Scots 24-7 in the second quarter, 25-15 in the third and 22-14 in the fourth to win going away. Maryville was aided tremendously by converting a season-high 24 free throws out of 29 attempts, while Covenant finished just 2-of-5 at the line. Maryville also forced 22 Covenant turnovers and outscored the hosts in points-off-turnovers 34-3.
"Covenant was the aggressor in that first quarter; they really had us on our heels," Travillian said. "But in the second quarter, we were the more aggressive team and it got us to the free throw line. That carried all the way through."
Covenant led 14-9 when Tori Caldwell scored a layup with 4:17 showing. Maryville narrowed the gap to 14-13 but then Covenant scored the final bucket of the period and led 16-13 after 10 minutes.
Maryville quickly grabbed the lead on two free throws from Hannah Jones, a Jordan Heifner layup and Eckenrod converting a fast break for a 19-16 advantage with 8:45 left before halftime. The Scots continued to stifle Covenant and built a 26-16 lead – Eckenrod's 3-pointer at 5:35 putting her right on 1,000 career points – before the home team halted the scoreless streak of 6 minutes and 3 seconds.
Maryville scored six more in a row to make it a 19-2 run and Heifner's jumper in the final seconds put the MC Scots in front 37-23. Maryville led 62-38 at the end of three quarters and coasted the rest of the way.
Eckenrod Adds Nine Boards
Eckenrod also topped all rebounders with nine, just missing her second double-double of the season. She eclipsed 500 rebounds earlier this year and certainly if finishing her career on a strong note.
"I'm so happy for her," Travillian said. "For her entire career, she's been not just a team-first but a program-first person. She gets the 1,000 points but she does it by also making our team go. She's always put our program first, and that shouldn't be lost on people."
Courtney Carruthers scored 18 points, Heifner 17 and Jones added 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting. Eckenrod was 4-of-5 at the line, Carruthers 6-of-6 and Heifner 7-of-8. Covenant was led by 15 points from Cosette Kirsch.
