JACKSON, Miss. -- Kiaira Cooper's runner with just two seconds remaining lifted the visiting Covenant Lady Scots to a 77-75 win over Millsaps on Tuesday night. The win for Covenant keeps its record perfect at 3-0 for the season, while the Majors drop to 0-3.
Cooper's shot came just a few seconds after Millsaps had tied the score at 75 apiece with a Miah Brooks layup. After a Millsaps timeout, Brooks turned the ball over and the Lady Scots kept their unblemished record.
"The team did an awesome job of keeping their heads up and playing through the pressure," said head coach Tami Smialek.
Covenant received another double-double from forward Jessie Blankenship. The junior registered 25 points and 12 rebounds on 9-of-15 shooting to go along with three assists. This marks the third straight game Blankenship has tallied a double-double.
Cooper posted a season-high 18 points, none bigger than the final two.
"Kiaira played tough tonight and played like a leader," added Smialek.
Covenant trailed 69-64 with 5:17 left, but came back to tie the score at 69-69 after a Ruth Gibson 3-pointer and a Blankenship layup. Both teams traded baskets in the final minutes of the game before Cooper put the Lady Scots up 75-73 with a pair of free-throws with 18 seconds remaining.
Haley Soles totaled 11 points, including three 3-pointers, while Gibson added 10 points. Morgan Woodward dished out a team-high five assists.
Millsaps was led by Victoria Morgan's 15 points with Makayla Roberson adding 11 points and Brooks just missing out on a double-double of her own with nine points and eight rebounds.
The Majors took their largest lead of the game at 18-7 less than seven minutes into the contest. Covenant fought back with a 10-0 scoring run capped by Alexis Storteboom's layup at the 9:15 mark of the first half. The Lady Scots would grab a 41-38 lead at halftime on a Blankenship offensive rebound and putback just before the buzzer sounded.
Millsaps again gained control of the game in the second half as they led by six points twice. But the Lady Scots would not go away as they responded from a 67-61 deficit late in the second half.
Covenant shot 42.2 percent from the floor and outrebounded the Majors 43-32 to account for 15 second-chance points. The Lady Scots excelled at the free-throw line making 17-of-22 attempts on the night. Millsaps shot 38.9 percent for the game and 33.3 percent behind the 3-point line.
Covenant will break for Thanksgiving before returning to action next Tuesday night against Berry College at Mount Berry, Ga. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m.