The women's basketball team starts a busy week tonight as the Panthers host Covenant in Mariotti Gym at 5 p.m. The game was originally scheduled for Jan. 27 but was moved up when Covenant's scheduled game with Maryville was postponed.
The game marks the first of three straight this week against USA South opponents ahead of LC in the USA South West Division. After Covenant tonight, the Panthers play at Brevard on Friday and at Piedmont on Saturday. All three are 3-1 in the conference standings beginning the week. LC is 4-2 in the conference and 9-6 overall after beating Agnes Scott 77-46 in Mariotti Gym last Sunday.
The Panthers got off to a slow start against Agnes Scott and trailed after the first quarter. But over the second and third quarters, the Panthers outscored the Scotties 52-23 to put the game out of reach. Junior Gracie Brunel had a team and game high 16 points, while Jalaya Lewis added 14. Brunel is fifth in the USA South in scoring, averaging 17.6 points per game. Junior Breonna Glover is third in the conference in shooting, making 58.2% of her shots. Freshman Brittany Chavez has made 16-of-38 3-point attempts, and her 42.1% made percentage is fifth in the conference.
Covenant enters tonight's 6-4 overall. The Scots got off to a 6-1 start but have lost three in a row, including a 61-33 home loss to West Division leader Berea on Jan. 12. Junior Cosette Kirch is the only Scot averaging in double figures. Kirch is scoring 13.0 points per game. Sophomore Destiny Mergilles and junior Ruthie Moore are each averaging 8.1 points per game. Moore leads the team in rebounding, averaging 7.8 rebounds per game.
LC leads the series 16-6. The Panthers are 10-1 in Mariotti Gym against the Scots. LC won both meetings during the abbreviated 2020-21 season.
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