The Covenant women's basketball team hung tight, but visiting Oglethorpe surged past the Scots in the fourth quarter to take a 71-59 victory on Tuesday night inside Barnes PE Center.
The game was the home opener for Covenant (0-3). Oglethorpe (4-1), the reigning SAA champion and 2018 NCAA Tournament participant, has won four of its first five games to open the year.
Kaley Hallmark had 20 points, six steals and three rebounds to lead the Scots. Abi Chatham, Raquel Rosa, and Joanna Smith had nine points apiece, while Smith collected seven rebounds.
For a second straight game, Covenant led after the first period.
The Scots trailed 7-2 in the early minutes, but responded with a 10-3 run to grab a 12-10 lead with 3:27 remaining in the period after Taylor Robinson's layup. The run extended to 14-3 as Hannah Monday capped the stretch with a free throw giving the Scots a 16-10 lead. Covenant entered the second period with a 17-13 edge.
Covenant took its largest lead of the night at eight (26-18) after a Hallmark layup, assisted by Morgan Douglass. Oglethorpe ended the first half on a 10-0 run to seize a 30-28 lead at the intermission.
The Scots led by six late in the third quarter, but the visiting Stormy Petrels ended the quarter on an 8-0 run to take a 49-47 lead into the fourth.
Oglethorpe continued momentum into the fourth as the Stormy Petrels shot 46.7 percent (7-of-15) from the floor in the period and forced the Scots into nine turnovers. The lead expanded to double-digits late in the period as Oglethorpe pulled away for the win.
Covenant shot 44.0 percent (22-of-50) from the field with seven 3-pointers. Oglethorpe connected on 40.3 percent (25-of-62) for the game with eight 3-pointers. The Stormy Petrels held a 38-31 rebounding edge and scored 22 second-chance points.
Four players scored in double figures for Oglethorpe led by Savannah LeGate's 18 points and seven rebounds. Brooke Simpson scored 13 points, while Bailey Charles had 11 and Sydney Long 10. Lauren Ransom led all players with 12 rebounds.
Covenant will take a week off for Thanksgiving before hosting Sewanee on Wednesday, Nov. 28. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m.