ROME, Ga. -- Aleigha Williams had 17 points and the Covenant women's basketball team survived a cold shooting night to come away with a 65-52 victory over Berry at the Cage Center on Tuesday evening.
Covenant remains unbeaten on the year at 4-0 with the win. It is the first 4-0 start for the program since the 1996-97 season, a year that ended with a 21-7 overall record. Berry drops to 2-2 on the year.
The Scots shot just 33.9 percent (20-of-59) from the field, but forced Berry into 20 turnovers and converted those into 26 points. Covenant also made 20-of-31 from the foul line, compared to just six made free throws by the host Vikings.
Williams led three players in double figure scoring for Covenant with 17 points to go along with three rebounds and four steals. Kaley Hallmark drained two big 3-pointers late in the fourth quarter and ended with 10 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Joanna Smith added 11 points and six rebounds. Aleksandreja Kulits grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds to go with nine points. Grace Potter chipped in six points and two assists off the bench.
After leading by 10 (32-22) at halftime, Covenant struggled through much of the third period as Berry rallied. The Vikings held a 47-45 lead with 6:52 remaining, but Covenant would go on an 18-0 scoring run over the next five-and-a-half minutes to seize control and a 63-47 lead. Williams had a steal and layup that gave Covenant the lead for good during the stretch, while Hallmark made two 3-pointers to extend the lead to 11 with 2:54 left.
Covenant built an early lead after shooting 43.8 percent in the first period as the Scots led 19-11. Williams had eight points in the quarter, including a pair of 3-pointers. Covenant's lead got as big as 15 at 26-11 after a Hallmark free throw with 6:23 left in the second before Berry cut the margin to 10 at the break.
In the third, Berry outscored Covenant 18-8 to knot the score at 40-40 heading into the fourth quarter.
Ashley McKee had eight points for Berry, while Alex Weems, Christine Cerezola and Eveline Parsons had seven points apiece. The Vikings shot 30 percent (20-of-70) from the field and were held to 4-of-25 shooting from behind the 3-point line.
UP NEXT
Covenant will take a break for Thanksgiving and return to action on Tuesday, Dec. 6 at home against Oglethorpe. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. at Barnes PE Center.
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