LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN -- Preseason USA South favorite Maryville showed its muscle on Tuesday night as they routed the Covenant women's basketball team 75-40 inside Barnes Physical Education Center.

Jessie Blankenship notched her fifth straight double-double as she tallied 15 points and 10 rebounds, but it was not enough as Covenant dropped its third straight decision. The Scots stand at 4-9 overall and 1-4 in league play. Blankenship has six double-doubles on the year which leads the USA South.

Maryville (11-3, 4-1 USA South) received 15 points and eight rebounds from reigning USA South Player of the Week Mackenzie Puckett. Puckett scored 13 in the first half. Lauren Burnett had 15 points, including five 3-pointers, and Kelsey Brown chipped in 10 points for the visitors. Lailah Farmer dished out a game-high six assists.

Maryville bolted out to a quick 6-0 lead in the opening minutes of the contest before Covenant went on a 7-0 scoring run. Aleigha Williams connected on a jumper and a 3-pointer while Haley Soles added a basket to cap off the run giving the Scots a 7-6 edge. 

But Maryville would use a 22-5 run over the course of almost 11 minutes of action to gain a 33-16 lead with 4:45 left in the first half. Maryville went into halftime up 46-20 and continued to extend the lead in the second half.

Williams added 10 points for Covenant. The Scots made 11-of-16 free throws, but shot 25.9 percent (14-of-54) from the field. Maryville was efficient as they produced 21 assists on 30 made field goals. The visitors also made 12-of-30 3-pointers.

Covenant will hit the road for the first time in the USA South when they travel to North Carolina this weekend. The Scots face North Carolina Wesleyan on Friday, followed by a tilt with William Peace on Saturday.