SEWANEE, Tenn. -- Cosette Kirsch led all scorers with 20 points and knocked down the game-winning 3-pointer with 2.4 seconds left to play to give the Covenant women's basketball team a 53-30 win at Sewanee on Tuesday night inside Juhan Gymnasium
The season-opening contest for the Scots remained competitive throughout the game; but it would be a hot second half led by Kirsch that would propel Covenant past the Tigers.
The first quarter remained tight between the teams, ending in a 7-6 Sewanee lead. Covenant's six points came thanks to 3-pointers from Mary Elaine Mitchell and Karis McIntosh.
The Tigers would pick it up in the second, going on a 10-0 run to start the quarter and taking a 17-6 lead. A jumper from Kirsch at the 4:29 mark would end the Scots' scoring drought and cut the lead to nine (17-8).
Covenant struggled to score after Kirsch's jumper, but ended the last two minutes of the period with a 7-2 run, cutting the deficit to five heading into halftime (21-16). Both Kirsch and Mitchell hit one from downtown during the run.
Both teams would turn up the heat in the third quarter. The Scots scored 17 points, 11 of which were contributed by Kirsch. The junior went 4-for-5 from the field and 1-for-2 from 3-point land to bring her team within six heading into the fourth quarter (39-33).
All 11 of her points came consecutively over the span of six minutes, while fellow junior Ruthie Moore added the remaining six Scots points scored during the period.
From there, Covenant outscored Sewanee 20-11 in the fourth quarter. Down by nine with 6:54 to play, the Scots used a 17-5 run to end the game and come out on top.
Covenant quickly cut the deficit to four with just under five minutes to play thanks to a jumper from Abby Witt, layup from Moore, and a 3-pointer from Michaela Price (47-43). Consecutive free throws from Madison Blevins at the 1:18 mark would tie the game and give the Scots a 48-47 lead.
A Sewanee layup and free throw then gave the Tigers a 50-48 lead with just over 30 seconds left in regulation. But a layup from Moore would quickly tie it up at 50 with 23 seconds on the clock.
A Tiger turnover then gave the Scots the ball with nine seconds left. And from there it was all Kirsch, as she took the inbounds pass and dribbled to the top of the key before draining one from behind-the-arc with 2.4 seconds left. Sewanee was unable to get off a shot before time expired.
Moore finished with 11 points and six rebounds. Mitchell added six.
Sewanee (1-1) was led by Keisha Phillips who had a double-double of 15 points and 14 rebounds. Kinsley Logan contributed 13 points, while Ellie Treanton had 12 points and eight rebounds.
HIGHLIGHT OF THE NIGHT
UP NEXT
Covenant will host Berry on Day one of the Mountaintop Madness on Friday. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m., after Brevard takes on Greenville at 6 p.m. inside Barnes PE Center.
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Be sure to follow the Scots all season long on athletics.covenant.edu and on social media at Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for up-to-date scores, news and other information.
