In the first of two games this weekend the Covenant women's basketball team took on Wesleyan inside Barnes P.E. Center. The Scots jumped on the Wolves from the start, as they did not trail all night in a 72-44 conference win.
Led on by five points from Lucy Benson, Covenant went on a 7-0 run in the first 45 seconds of the game leading to a Wesleyan timeout. After Wesleyan scored its first basket of the night, Hannah Eidson scored four points for Covenant to make it 11-2. Wesleyan hung around as a layup with 35 seconds remaining kept the Wolves within seven points at 16-9.
Started off by triples by Benson and Amanda Neff, Covenant went on a 10-0 run to begin the second quarter. Covenant went scoreless for almost three minutes which allowed Wesleyan to cut the lead to 12 points at 26-14.
With the help of five free throws made down the stretch, Covenant went into the locker room ahead 35-18.
The Scots came out the aggressors in the opening few minutes of the second half, scoring the first six points on three inside baskets to go up 41-18. Once again the scrappy Wolves punched back, using an 8-0 run across four minutes to put the score at 41-26 Faith Wasden ended the scoring drought and started a run of five consecutive points for Covenant. Wesleyan scored the final six points of the quarter, including a jumper with 14 seconds left to cut the lead to 46-33.
An inside basket from Eidson followed by a triple by Abby Witt got the final 10 minutes started on the right foot for the Scots. Six made free throws for Covenant extended its lead to 64-38.
Abby Slaton buried a pair of triples late to put the score at 70-39. Alyssa Freeman got on the scoresheet in the final minute with two made free throws to close out the evening.
Covenant moves to 22-3 all-time against Wesleyan. Leading Covenant in scoring was Benson with 16 points on 5-of-9 shooting. Breezy Savage was Covenant's other scorer on the night in double-figures with 13 points.
Covenant was 41% (25-61) from the field and 24.1% (7-29) shooting 3-pointers while Wesleyan was 28.3% (17-60) and 21.4% (3-14) in the same categories. The Scots forced 30 turnovers on defense.
Prior to tip-off, Savage and Witt dedicated a team-signed game ball to be given to Dr. David Washuburn, Professor of Psychology, who is currently battling pancreatic cancer.
Covenant returns to the court at 2 p.m. tomorrow afternoon against Agnes Scott. Prior to tip-off the Scots will celebrate Senior Day.