MACON, Ga. - Women's basketball delivered one of its most dominant performances of the season Saturday afternoon, overwhelming Wesleyan College 84-34 in CCS play.
Maryville (13-9, 9-5 CCS) never trailed and controlled the game from the opening possession, forcing 22 turnovers and holding Wesleyan to just 15.9 percent shooting from the field. The 50-point margin marked one of the Scots' largest wins of the year.
Fast Start Sets the Tone
The Scots wasted no time asserting themselves.
After an early offensive rebound, Emily Wilson knocked down a three-pointer to open the scoring, then converted a fast-break layup off a steal to spark a quick 5-0 run. Moments later, Wilson buried back-to-back triples as Maryville raced out to a 13-2 lead.
The defensive pressure was relentless. Braxton Fritz and Kadence Stoner each recorded early steals, leading directly to transition buckets. By the end of the first quarter, Maryville had built a commanding 26-4 advantage while holding Wesleyan to just 2-of-13 shooting.
Wilson poured in 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting, including 4-of-8 from beyond the arc, and was the catalyst on both ends with three steals.
Defensive Clinic in the Second Quarter
The Scots suffocated Wesleyan in the second period, limiting the Wolves to just one field goal and three total points. Maryville extended the lead to 29-4 on a three from Ella Tharpe and continued to pile on with perimeter shooting and second-chance opportunities.
Chloe Powell came off the bench and caught fire, draining three triples in the quarter. Her third make pushed the margin to 40-7.
Maryville took a commanding 46-7 lead into halftime, forcing 15 Wesleyan turnovers in the first half alone.
Balanced Attack, Bench Production
The Scots showcased their depth throughout the afternoon:
Powell finished with nine points (3-for-4 from three). Kendyll McCloud added seven points, while Konner Hutson provided six points and four rebounds in the paint. Ten different Scots scored at least four points.
Kadence Stoner chipped in eight points and two steals, while Fritz contributed five points, four assists, and active defense in limited minutes.
Maryville shot 44.9 percent overall and knocked down 13 three-pointers.
Closing It Out
Even with a comfortable lead, the Scots maintained their intensity. In the third quarter, Fritz converted a three-pointer and a fast-break layup off a steal to push the score to 51-7. The lead ballooned past 40 midway through the period and reached 50 early in the fourth.
The final seconds fittingly belonged to Maryville's interior presence, as Charla Young scored in the paint to seal the 84-34 victory.
By the Numbers
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Wesleyan shot just 7-of-44 (15.9%) from the field.
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Maryville forced 22 turnovers and committed only 15.
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The Scots outscored the Wolves 32-8 in the paint and 20-6 in fast-break points.
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Maryville led for the entire 40 minutes.
With the win, Maryville strengthens its position in the CCS standings and continues to build momentum down the stretch of conference play.
The Scots return home looking to carry this defensive intensity and balanced scoring attack into their next matchup against Asbury on Senior Night, Feb. 17.
