MARYVILLE, Tenn. -- The Covenant women's basketball team dropped a close game against conference foe Maryville this afternoon, 53-49. It was the second game of the series, completing the sweep for Maryville.
Covenant had three players in double digits in the tough loss. Ruthie Moore led scorers with 13 points and eight rebounds. Destiny Mergilles continued her stellar play, just one rebound shy of a double-double. She added 11 points and nine rebounds. Ten points were put up by Cosette Kirsch, and Mary Elaine Mitchell scored nine.
In a game where both teams struggled to score, Covenant led the entire game until the 2:32 mark in the third quarter. After a slow first half, the second half started with the visiting Scots leading Maryville by two points, 16-14.
Starting the third period, Covenant gained a six point lead with back-to-back layups by Mergilles and Kirsch. Maryville battled back within one at the 4:53 mark, but a triple by Mitchell the very next possession would put the visiting Scots back up by four.
From there, Maryville would end the period on an 11-2 run. During the quarter, the host Scots shot 57.1 percent (8-of-14) from the floor and 66.7 percent (4-of-6) from 3-point land.
Covenant entered the fourth and final period down by nine points, 27-36.
The final 10 minutes of the game saw lots of exciting back and forth action. Covenant started off hot, opening with a 9-0 run which tied the game at 36. Moore scored four of her 13 points during the run.
Maryville would retake the lead at the 7:49 mark with a jumper by Courtney Carruthers. After a turnover by Covenant, a 3-pointer from Shelby Hix would put the host Scots up by five with 7:05 to go.
But Covenant refused to back down.
After a Mergilles free throw put her team back within one, Maryville would score a quick five points to extend the lead back out to six. But after a Mitchell 3-pointer and a Moore layup, Covenant was just as quickly back within one point again with 4:40 left to play.
At the 1:45 mark, a Mergilles layup tied the game up, 49-49. But the host Scots would finish the exciting game out with a layup and a pair of free throws to win the game by four.
Maryville was led by Carruthers who had 16 points and Jordan Heifner who added 10 points and four steals. The team improves to 4-0 in conference play (4-0 overall).
Covenant drops to 0-6 in USA South play and 1-13 overall.
UP NEXT
Covenant will play Friday, February 5, against Brevard on Lookout Mountain. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 pm EST.
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