BEREA, Ky. - For its first game of the new year, Covenant visited Berea to open CCS play. The Scots struggled in the second quarter and fell 63-50 to the defending conference champions. 

Final: Covenant 50, Berea 63
Records: Covenant (3-7, 0-1 CCS), Berea (8-2, 1-0 CCS)

FIRST QUARTER:

• The Scots scored on their opening possession of the day as Karis McIntosh hit a triple after getting a steal.
• Covenant extended its lead to 6-1 after Breezy Savage knocked down a 3-pointer. 
• Berea closed on the Covenant lead as a layup put it down just 8-7 with 5:09 left in the quarter. 
• The Mountaineers continued to press on as they scored on three consecutive possessions to move ahead 13-10. 
• Berea scored twice in the final minute, including a made 3-pointer to take a 19-13 lead. 

 SECOND QUARTER:

• The Mountaineers went on a 15-0 run over eight minutes to start the second quarter.
• Megan Rouse hit a free throw to end the scoreless drought for Covenant, but the damage was done as it trailed 34-14 at the intermission. 

 THIRD QUARTER:

• As she did to start the first quarter, McIntosh made a 3-pointer on Covenant's first possession. 
• Savage made a layup to cut the lead to 36-19 with 6:59 remaining. 
• The Mountaineers used four made free throws to help sustain a 7-0 scoring run to push their lead to 43-19. 
• Rilee Smith and Ella Grace Squires each made inside baskets to cut the lead back down to 20 points. 
• Berea ended the quarter strong with eight consecutive points to go into the final quarter ahead 51-23.

 FOURTH QUARTER:

• Abby Witt scored four straight points for the Scots to trim the lead to 55-27.
• A 13-2 run for Covenant cut the Berea lead to 58-40 with 4:05 remaining. 
• The Scots continued to fight as a 3-pointer by Rilee Smith put them within 13 points, but it was too little too late. 
• In total, Covenant outscored Berea 27-12 in the fourth quarter but lost the game 63-50. 

GAME NOTES: 

• Covenant drops to 1-11 all-time against Berea. 
• McIntosh scored 11 points with three made triples to lead the Scots offensively. 
• Savage was also in double-figures with 10 points on 4-of-10 shooting.
• Covenant shot 32.2% (19-59) from the field while Berea was 31.3% (21-67) shooting. 
• At the free throw line Covenant was 66.7% (6-9), on the other hand Berea was 63% (17-27) shooting free throws. 
• The Mountaineers won the rebound battle 58-32. 

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