DANVILLE, Ky. -- Joanna Smith had 13 points and Kaley Hallmark added 12, but the Covenant women's basketball team fell to Centre, 70-52, in the finale of the Lee's Famous Chicken/Hampton Inn Classic at Alumni Gym on Saturday evening.
Covenant falls to 0-2 on the year, while Centre goes to 2-0.
Smith added three rebounds and three steals to her 13-point effort. Hallmark contributed three assists and four rebounds to go along with her dozen points. Taylor Robinson dished out a game-high six assists, as Covenant had 19 assists on the night, while Raquel Rosa tallied eight points.
The Scots got off to a good start and led 15-12 at the end of the first period. Covenant shot 6-of-13 from the field in the opening 10 minutes to take a three-point edge. The Scots got out to a 6-0 lead and held Centre scoreless for the first three-plus minutes of the contest.
In the second period, Covenant led 25-24 with 1:38 left after a Smith basket. However, Centre finished the quarter on a 5-0 run that was capped by a Presley Chirico 3-pointer at the buzzer to give the host Colonels a 29-25 lead at the break.
The third period was the difference in the game as Centre outscored Covenant 25-13 and led by as many as 18 points in the quarter. The Scots would not be able to trim the deficit into single-digits the rest of the way.
Covenant shot 36.1 percent (22-of-61) from the field, while Centre connected 51.9 percent (27-of-52) with six 3-pointers. Centre held a 44-26 rebounding edge and totaled 16 second-chance points.
Centre was led in scoring by Abigail Stewart's 17 points and eight rebounds. Kathleen Wilson added 12 points.
UP NEXT
Covenant will open the home schedule on Tuesday against SAA foe Oglethorpe. Tip-off inside Barnes PE Center is set for 5:30 p.m.
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