Box Score Maryville Drops 75-71 Heartbreaker
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Maryville's third overtime loss of the season might be the most painful.
The Scots dropped a 75-71 decision Sunday at Huntingdon in triple-overtime, letting a 15-point second-half lead get away.
Maryville earlier this season lost back-to-back overtime games at home to Berea and Covenant. The Scots could have used one or two of those in the win column as they fall to 8-12 overall and 5-7 in the USA South. That's a tie for fifth place with two games remaining against Brevard and one at Covenant.
The top five teams in each division make the USA South Conference Tournament.
Sunday's triple-overtime game was the first multiple OT contest for the Scots since a 76-74 loss to Piedmont in January 2018. It is believed to be the first triple-overtime game for Maryville this century.
Maryville led 39-24 after Elsa Eckenrod knocked down a jump shot with 5:59 remaining in the third quarter. That was Maryville's largest lead of the game after they were in front 17-8 at the first-quarter break and 27-16 at intermission.
But Huntingdon got back into the contest with a 12-0 run that stretched across 5:50 of the third and fourth quarters. The Hawks during that stretch rallied from a 41-29 deficit to tie it 41-41 with 7:27 remaining in the game.
Shelby Hix halted the streak by swishing a jumper from the free throw line on the ensuing possession, and the game was tight the rest of the way. Jordan Heifner sank two free throws with 1:06 showing for the 50-50 tie at the end of regulation.
Eckenrod knocked down a pair of threes in the first extra session and scored seven of Maryville's nine points. In the second overtime, Eckenrod's deflection led to a Jordan Heifner breakout and her layup gave the Scots a 66-65 lead with 1:28 showing.
After a defensive stop, Hix grabbed an offensive rebound and fed Heifner for a lay-in that made it 68-65 with 35.3 seconds remaining.
But Huntingdon tied it when AB Davis knocked down a tough 3-pointer from the wing. Heifner had a good look at the winning layup but it wouldn't fall, and the teams went to a third overtime.
Kassidy Crawford opened the final stanza with a 3-pointer and Huntingdon scored the first four points. Eckenrod's 3-pointer closed the gap to 72-71 with 1:01 remaining, but that was as close as the Scots could get.
Eckenrod led Maryville with a career-high 23 points, finishing 4-of-5 from downtown. Heifner and Courtney Carruthers scored 15 apiece for the visitors, while Davis topped all scorers with 29 points and 11 boards for the Hawks.
Maryville is home for Senior Night Wednesday against Brevard. Tipoff is 6 p.m.
