Emma Grimes led three players in double figure scoring for the Covenant women's basketball team, but the Scots suffered a 79-61 loss to USA South foe Maryville on Thursday night inside Barnes PE Center.
Grimes hit five 3-pointers on the night and Covenant (6-10, 2-5 USA South) made 10 triples as a team, but could not slow down visiting Maryville (12-7, 8-1 USA South). Kaley Hallmark had 12 points, seven rebounds and six assists and Jessica Bell added 11 points, four boards, and five steals.
Covenant trailed by just eight, 35-27, at the break after shooting 40 percent (10-of-25) in the half.
The Scots were sharp from distance in the first quarter, making four 3-pointers in the period.
Those triples helped Covenant to an early six-point lead as Hallmark made two and Grimes added another to make it 9-3 with 5:10 left in the first. Maryville used a 14-5 run over the final five minutes to take a 17-14 lead heading into the second.
The visiting Scots then surged ahead by double-digits in the second quarter before a 5-0 run at the end of the period sliced the Covenant deficit to 35-27.
Covenant would again trail by double figures in the third, but a 3-pointer from Grimes and a basket from Bekah Walter in the final minute cut the margin to 56-48. Maryville thwarted the comeback attempt from Covenant in the fourth as it hit 7-of-11 shots and outscored the Scots 23-13 in the period.
Walter finished with eight points, two assists and two blocks while Taylor Robinson had nine points on the night. Covenant shot 39.1 percent (25-of-64) from the floor.
Maryville put five players in double-digit scoring led by Madison Maples' 17 points and Rachel Hawn's double-double of 14 points and 13 rebounds. Lauren Biliter had 13 points and eight rebounds, while Libby Gardner and Haley Talbott added 12 points each. Maryville connected on 47.5 percent (28-of-59) from the field with 12 3-pointers and a 42-31 rebounding edge.
Covenant will hit the road for a USA South contest at Berea on Friday. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m.