RALEIGH, N.C. -- Continuing her torrid start to conference play, senior Jessie Blankenship made school history on Saturday. Blankenship grabbed 22 rebounds to tie the program record set back in 1985, but it was not enough as the Covenant women's basketball team fell to William Peace 68-60 in USA South action.
Covenant has dropped five in a row and now stands at 4-11 on the season and 1-6 in league play. William Peace snaps an 11-game losing streak dating back to last season with the victory as they move to 1-9 overall and 1-3 in the USA South.
Blankenship's numbers were staggering on Saturday. She posted her seventh consecutive double-double with 16 points to go along with those 22 rebounds. Blankenship has now registered 29 double-doubles in her career, including eight this season. Of her 22 rebounds, 14 were on defense with eight on the offensive glass. The rebound total ties the program mark for a game set nearly 29 years ago by Kristin Baker on Feb. 5, 1985 against Reinhardt.
Even with Blankenship's contributions, the Scots could not slow down WPU as four different players scored in double figures for the Pacers led by Zhana Gooden's 15 points. Lexus Simpson had 14 points, while Crystal Alston and Derrica Jones had 11 apiece. Jones also recorded a double-double as she collected 10 boards.
Both teams started slowly in the first half, but Covenant took a three-point lead at 13-10 following a 3-pointer from Aleigha Williams at the 10:15 mark of the opening period. It was a tight-knit contest throughout the rest of the half as WPU grabbed a 32-28 lead heading into halftime.
Alexis Storteboom cut the Scots' deficit to 32-30 with a jumper in the opening minute of the second half, but the host Pacers would go on a 9-0 scoring run over the next two minutes to gain a 41-30 edge. Covenant would get as close as five points at 46-41 after Blankenship converted a layup with 13:27 left. Again, WPU would stretch the lead to double digits and the Pacers kept the Scots at a distance the rest of the way.
Storteboom had a solid game with 11 points and eight rebounds for the Scots. Liz Dougherty and Williams had seven points each, while Rachel Price came off the bench to score six on 3-of-3 shooting. Covenant shot just 35.9 percent (23-of-64) for the game, but outrebounded the Pacers 61-40.
Covenant held WPU to only 32.9 percent (26-of-79) from the field, however 28 turnovers were turned into 26 points for the hosts.
The Scots will travel to USA South foe LaGrange on Wednesday night. Tip-off is slated for 5:30 p.m.