MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- The Covenant women's basketball team saw its season come to an end with an 85-72 loss at Huntingdon in the first round of the USA South Tournament on Wednesday night in Montgomery.

The loss ends the season for Covenant (10-16). Huntingdon (21-4), which has won 11 in a row, advances to the quarterfinal round on Saturday at Greensboro.

Joanna Smith led the Scots with 19 points, while Raquel Rosa and Bekah Walter had 13 points apiece. Kaley Hallmark added 12 points and three assists. The loss ends the outstanding careers of Covenant's six seniors, including Hallmark, Taylor Robinson, Smith, Walter, Grace Potter, and Morgan Douglass.

Huntingdon never trailed in the contest and took an early 12-0 lead on the Scots in the first three-plus minutes of the game. Down by 18 with seven minutes left in the second period, Covenant put together a run to slice the deficit. The Scots outscored the host Hawks 16-7 in the final seven minutes to get within 42-33 at the break.

In the third quarter, Covenant got back-to-back baskets from Walter and Robinson to trim the deficit to 50-43 with 6:52 left in the period. Huntingdon stretched the margin back to double figures after a Kassidy Crawford three-point play made it 56-45 with 3:42 left in the quarter. 

Huntingdon then got its lead back to 15 at the end of the third and led by double digits for the majority of the fourth quarter to seal the win.

Covenant shot 42.6 percent (26-of-61) from the field and went 17-of-18 at the free throw line. The Scots forced Huntingdon into 20 turnovers, including 14 steals. Rosa had a team-high three steals.

Huntingdon received 22 points and eight rebounds from Shaonica Thomas and 16 points and seven boards from TI Duncan in the win. The Hawks also got 11 points from Alex Lowery and 10 from Mia Hudson. Huntingdon connected on 47.5 percent (29-of-61) from the floor with six 3-pointers and a 21-for-28 effort at the foul line.

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