BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The Covenant women's basketball team suffered from a cold shooting night and could not overcome big runs from East Texas Baptist in an 88-46 loss on Thursday evening inside Bill Battle Coliseum.
The loss drops Covenant to 0-2 on the year, while ETBU improves to 5-0.
ETBU used a 26-2 run in the first period and a 24-2 run in the fourth quarter to take the win. It was the first all-time meeting between the programs.
Three players scored nine points apiece for Covenant as Destiny Mergilles put up nine points and two blocks, while Megan Rouse and Karis McIntosh had nine points each off the bench. Rouse added two rebounds and a pair of blocks, and McIntosh grabbed four rebounds.
Covenant had a 4-2 lead early in the first after back-to-back baskets from Mergilles. ETBU rattled off a 26-2 run over the final eight-plus minutes of the first period to take a 28-6 lead, one they would never relinquish.
In the second, the Scots outscored ETBU 10-7 over the final five-and-a-half minutes to chip away at the deficit. Tori Caldwell hit a 3-pointer during the stretch and Elissa Moore hit four free throws, but the Scots still trailed 39-20 at the half.
Over the final two quarters, Covenant struggled to find the range as ETBU stretched the lead back out. The Scots ended the night connecting on 30.2 percent (16-of-53) from the floor with three 3-pointers. Ruthie Moore had seven points and five rebounds, while Elissa Moore finished with six points.
Kenidi White and Bridget Upton had 12 points each for ETBU in the win. ETBU shot 51.9 percent (28-of-54) for the game with eight 3-pointers and a 24-of-35 effort at the foul line.
UP NEXT
Covenant concludes the Richard Dardenne Memorial Classic on Friday against UT Dallas. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. CST (5 p.m. EST) inside Bill Battle Coliseum in Birmingham.
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