BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Sophomore Emilee Olsen (Marietta, Ga./Lassiter HS)  dropped a game and career-high 27 points to help lead the Birmingham-Southern women's basketball team to its 73-69 home opening win over Covenant College.  The Panthers are now 2-2 on the year.

Olsen spent a game-high 38 minutes on the floor and grabbed a team-high seven rebounds.  Misa Fujii (Sunnyvale, Calif./Notre Dame) and Elizabeth Philpot (Birmingham, Ala./Spain Park HS) also finished in double-figures with 12 and 10 points, respectively.

A big three as time expired in the first half put Covenant up 37-34.  BSC came out strong in the third quarter.  The game was tied three times before the Panthers took the lead for good, outscoring Covenant 19-14.

BSC pushed ahead by as much as 10 points in the fourth quarter, but Covenant was able to tie the game up at 53-all.  After a layup and steal gave the Scots possession with under a minute to play down just four points, the Panthers defense held them off the board and ate critical clock time.  Olsen blocked a three-point attempt in the corner and Keneta Morris (Scottsboro, Ala./Northeast Alabama CC) stole the ball with 27 seconds left.  She was fouled and hit both free throws to extend the lead to six, 72-66.

Covenant would pull within three with under 20 seconds to play, but the Panthers held on for the win.

BSC remains at home for its next game.  They welcome Emory University to Bill Battle Coliseum on Saturday, Dec. 1.  Tipoff is set for 2 p.m.

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