The Covenant women's basketball team could not overcome host Piedmont in a 79-46 setback on Friday evening inside Cave Arena in USA South action.
Ruthie Moore had 17 points, five rebounds, and three assists in the loss for Covenant (6-6, 3-3 USA South). Cosette Kirsch added 11 points, while Naomi Crumley scored nine points off the bench.
Piedmont (11-3, 5-1 USA South) never trailed in the contest and received 14 points apiece from three players -- Klaire Varney, Livia Skinner, Nakiyah Washington -- to pull away from the Scots.
Kyriaki Taylor registered a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds.
The Scots hung with Piedmont through the first 10 minutes of action, despite a cold start from the field. A Kirsch jumper tied the game at 4-4 early on and Covenant trailed 11-7 entering the second quarter.
Covenant trimmed the deficit to 11-10 early in the second on a Megan Rouse basket, but Piedmont surged ahead with a 17-2 run over the next five-plus minutes that gave the host Lions a 28-12 lead.
Rouse ended the night with a team-high six rebounds to go with three points.
The Scots briefly got within 12 in the third quarter, but Piedmont outscored Covenant in each period.
Covenant connected on 30 percent (15-of-50) from the field with six 3-pointers and 10-of-14 at the free throw line. The Scots forced 19 Piedmont turnovers, but the Lions hit 50 percent (30-of-60) for the game.
Covenant heads to Brevard on Saturday for a USA South contest. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m.