LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, Ga. - Year two of the Tonya McIntosh era of Covenant Women's Basketball started on Thursday night in Barnes P.E. Center as Covenant took on Pensacola Christian. Covenant had three different players with 20 points; however, it was not enough as it fell 85-74 in the fourth-ever meeting between the two schools. 

Final: Covenant 74, Pensacola Christian 85
Records: Covenant (0-1), Pensacola Christian (3-3)

Covenant started the game on a 7-0 run, not allowing PCC to score until the 6:33 mark of the first quarter. The Scots kept up their strong start for the remainder of the quarter as they led 24-15, behind four made 3-pointers. Amanda Neff and Violet Wright each had two makes from downtown. 

The second quarter was a different story as Pensacola Christian made five triples and was 47.6% (10-21) overall from the field as it took a 43-36 lead to the locker room. 

At the start of the third quarter, PCC drilled a 3-pointer to extend its lead to double-digits. Covenant responded, though, chopping away with a 12-2 run, capped off by a triple from Emma Flowers, which made it 51-50 with 4:15 remaining in the quarter. The Eagles finished the period on top though, outscoring the Scots 13-8 in the final minutes to go up 64-58. 

Covenant was all of a sudden within two points again after a layup from Emma Kaye Fuller at the 8:19 mark of the fourth quarter. However, as they did in the third quarter, PCC punched back with a triple. Later on, a 6-0 run put the Eagles back ahead by double digits. The Scots didn't die as a 3-pointer by Chloe Bertrand made it 79-74 with just over three minutes remaining, but that ended up being the last point the home side scored. 

As mentioned earlier, Covenant had three players score 20 points. Wright, a freshman from Chattanooga playing in her first college game, had a double-double with 20 points and 11 rebounds. Bertrand, a sophomore transfer from ETBU playing her first game as a Scot, added seven assists to her 20-point night. Lastly, Neff, a senior from Colorado, also had 20 points, a new career high, with six rebounds and three steals. 

Moving to the team box score, Covenant shot 40% (28-70) from the field, 30.8% (8-26) from three, and 76.9% (10-13) at the free-throw line. In the same categories, PCC was 41.7% (30-72), 37.1% (13-35), and 66.7% (12-18). The Eagles won the battle on the glass, outrebounding the Scots 48-39. 

Covenant moves to 1-3 all-time against Pensacola Christian. 

UP NEXT: The Scots host Welch on Monday at 6 p.m. for their second game of the year.

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