BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- In a back-and-forth, high-scoring affair, the Covenant women's basketball team was outlasted by Birmingham Southern, 113-97, in the regular season opener for both teams on Wednesday afternoon.

The game saw 13 ties and 11 lead changes, but it was host Birmingham Southern that used a late spurt to take the win.

Cosette Kirsch scored 20 points to lead six Covenant (0-1) players in double-figure scoring. Kirsch was 9-of-15 from the field and added six rebounds. Ruthie Moore narrowly missed a double-double with 16 points and nine rebounds to go along with seven assists.

Anna Rose Epting and Destiny Mergilles each scored 11 points in their first official college games. Mergilles made the start for the Scots and grabbed six rebounds. Elissa Moore and Megan Rouse also produced double-digits with their 10 points apiece, and Naomi Crumley recorded nine points. Rouse also had seven rebounds.

Covenant and BSC were tied at 84 midway through the fourth quarter. The Panthers used a run to take the lead for good and earn the win.

The Scots led for nearly 19 minutes of the game. Covenant raced out to a 10-point lead within the first two minutes of the game and had a 25-20 lead after the first. The Scots shot 52.4 percent (11-of-21) from the field in the opening quarter to grab the lead.

Covenant shot 48.3 percent (43-of-89) for the game and out-rebounded BSC 60-50. 

BSC (1-0) was led by Charlton Kelly's 16 points. The Panthers made 44.6 percent (41-of-92) from the floor with 10 3-pointers and were 21-of-34 from the free throw line.

UP NEXT

Covenant will play East Texas Baptist on Thursday in Birmingham, Ala., as part of the Richard Dardenne Memorial Classic. Tip-off is set for 5 p.m. EST ( 4 p.m. CST).

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