MARYVILLE, Tenn. - Maryville held off LaGrange 70-65 in a USA South game Tuesday. The Panthers slipped to 11-8 overall and 6-4 in conference play with their second straight loss.
Gracie Brunel and Jalaya Lewis lead four Panthers in double figures with 16 points each. Breonna Glover had a double-double of 13 points and a game and career high 12 rebounds. Ema Turner added 12 points.
Maryville (8-10, 5-5 USA South) got a game high 17 points from Courtney Carruthers. Elsa Eckenrod followed with 16.
Coach Jasen Jonus
"Tough loss on the road, we came out hot and silly turnovers in their zone led to them getting a lead on us. We didn't give up and battled back in the second half. We had a ton of chances to take the lead but didn't capitalize on layups and free throws we needed to win. You can't have 23 turnovers against a zone and win unless you get stops on the defensive end. We have to bounce back this weekend with two home games."
The Game
The Panthers led 11-6 midway through the first quarter, but would not score over the final five minutes. Maryville scored 22 unanswered points to lead 28-11 heading to the second period. Kendra Roberts' put back of her own missed shot broke the drought 34 seconds into the period. After trailing by as many as 18, the Panthers cut the deficit to seven, 29-36, on Brunel's 3-pointer. The Scots led 40-32 at halftime.
The Panthers rallied in the third period to retake the lead. Glover scored inside off an assist from Lewis to put LC up 52-51 heading to the fourth quarter. Maryville led 61-54 with 5:46 left after two free throws by Heifner. Lewis drove the lane for a layup to start an 8-0 run by the Panthers over a two-minute span. Turner hit the second of two free throws to put the Panthers up 62-61 with 2:37 showing on the clock.
Caruthers answered for Maryville with a trey to regain the lead. The Panthers went scoreless on their next four possessions as the Scots built a 68-62 lead. Turner drained a 3-pointer with three seconds remaining to make it a three-point game but Shelby Hix iced the game with two free throws for the 70-65 final.
Maryville hit 18-of-19 free throws in the game compared to the Panthers 6-for-11. Led by Glover, LC held a 46-31 edge in rebounding.
The two teams meet again Saturday in Mariotti Gym at 2 p.m. It will be Senior Day for Lewis, Jada Brown, Megan English, and Morgan Grant. On Sunday, the Panthers host West Division leader Berea at 2 p.m..
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