Grimes' Shooting Leads Covenant Women Over LaGrange

To say Emma Grimes was on fire on Tuesday night would be an understatement.

The senior guard drained a program-record 10 3-pointers and scored a career-high 32 points to lead the Covenant women's basketball team to a 79-65 victory over LaGrange in USA South action at Barnes PE Center.

Grimes broke the previous single-game program record of nine, which had been accomplished four times, most recently by Abby Reed in 2003.

Grimes went 10-of-13 from deep and 11-of-15 from the field overall and she recorded the first 30-plus point game for a Covenant player since 2010.

Covenant (7-11, 3-6 USA South) led for the majority of the night and completed a season sweep of LaGrange (7-9, 1-6 USA South) in the process. The Scots shot a season-high tying 49.1 percent (28-of-57) from the field with 14 3-pointers. The 14 treys were one off the program's single-game record for a team. 

The Scots got out to a 5-0 lead early on, thanks to Grimes' first triple, and led 17-13 at the end of the first quarter. Both teams struggled from the field in the second, but a Grimes 3-pointer with just over a minute left in the period gave Covenant a 28-24 edge into halftime.

In the third quarter, Covenant made 61.5 percent (8-of-13) from the field with four 3-pointers to extend the lead to double digits. A pair of Bekah Walter free throws gave the Scots a 43-32 lead, their largest at the time, with 5:25 remaining. Back-to-back baskets from Joanna Smith and Grimes later in the period gave Covenant a 51-39 lead, but LaGrange answered with a 7-2 run over the final three minutes to cut the lead to seven, 53-46, going to the fourth quarter.

Grimes was clutch in the fourth quarter as she went 4-of-4 from behind the 3-point line in the period to help the Scots pull away for the win. The senior hit consecutive 3-pointers to start the period, giving Covenant a 59-46 lead, and then hit two more triples later in the quarter to keep Covenant's lead in double figures. 

Over the final two quarters, Covenant shot 62.9 percent (17-of-27) with nine 3-pointers.

Walter finished with 19 points on 7-of-10 shooting from the field, while Kaley Hallmark had eight points, six rebounds and two assists. Jessica Bell added six points, six rebounds and a game-high seven assists. Smith finished with seven points, a game-best 11 rebounds, four assists and four steals. Taylor Robinson totaled four assists off the bench.

As a team, Covenant dished out a season-high 21 assists and held a 37-35 rebounding edge.

LaGrange was led by Lauren Johnson' 21 points and Marilauren Farr's double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds. Riley Chlupacek recorded 15 points and Jaelynn James had nine points and five steals. The visiting Panthers were held to 35.5 percent (22-of-62) from the floor despite making nine 3-pointers.

Covenant will hosts Agnes Scott on Friday at 7:30 p.m. Senior Night activities will take place before the contest.