Fewest Points Scored in Win Since 2015
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Maryville without its top scorer willed its way to 45 points, and a stellar defensive effort turned that into a 45-42 victory over Wheaton (Massachusetts) here Wednesday.
This was Maryville's first game of the Daytona Beach Shootout, while Wheaton defeated Stevenson 58-54 on Monday and entered Wednesday's play 9-2 on the season. Add to that daunting task the fact that Maryville was without leading scorer Courtney Carruthers (17.0 ppg), who is out with an injury.
The Scots limited Wheaton to just 27.9 percent shooting from the floor and a 5-of-23 afternoon from long distance. Maryville won the rebounding battle 43-42 and was able to outscore their northern foes 15-3 at the free throw line for the game, including 14-0 in the second half.
This was Maryville's fewest points scored in a win since defeating Averett 45-44 in the first round of the 2015 USA South Tournament.
"The defense played great today, and the defense has been there for us all year long," Maryville head coach Darrin Travillian said. "So far on this trip, we've held a team scoring over 100 a game to the 70s, we held Oglethorpe to barely 50 points and then today we held a team scoring 63½ to just 42. That is what gives us a chance to win.
"With Court not able to go, we had to scramble a bit. But our kids after that first quarter really started to settle in and gain confidence. They played with grit and determination – it was a great team win against a really good opponent."
In Front at Halftime
Maryville trailed by 10 points early and it was 14-8 after one quarter, but the Scots rallied to go in front 25-24 by intermission. Ella Haney (8) and Madison Williams (7) combined for 15 of Maryville's 17 second-quarter points.
The Scots were in front 32-31 heading to the fourth and opened the final period with an 8-2 run over the first 2:17. Haney made two free throws and then converted a 3-point-play. Emma Huskey made a jumper with 8:12 remaining for a 39-33 Scots advantage, and then Williams sank one of two at the line with 7:43 remaining for a 40-33 spread that was the largest of the game for Maryville.
That Huskey field goal was Maryville's last of the game, so it was up to the Scots to stay solid at the charity stripe. Maryville in the fourth was 9-of-15 from the line and the Scots outscored Wheaton 14-0 from the stripe in the second half.
"We made just enough at the end for it to be the difference," Travillian said.
Haney tallied a game-high 16 points, with Williams adding 12. Courtney Farr grabbed eight rebounds to lead MC in that category.
"Our mentality today was do your job," said Haney, who is second on the team in scoring at 10.9. "The focus was on everyone contributing, and it really showed when it came down to the end. We did an excellent job of keeping them off the free throw line and everyone was grabbling loose balls and rebounds – whatever it took."
Young Starting Five
Maryville without Carruthers started two first-years in Haney and Olivia Cathers, two sophomores in Williams and Huskey, and a junior college transfer in Chloe Roark.
"The two sophomores who started today, Madison and Emma, neither played a full semester because Madison transferred in and Emma was battling an injury," Travillian said. "Then you've got the juco first-year and obviously the two first-years, so it was a young bunch out there.
"Ella on this trip has really started to get it going. She played 40 minutes of point guard today and you can just see her confidence growing and see her starting to make plays."
The Scots improved to 4-5 with the victory and take on Randolph on Thursday at 3 p.m. Randolph defeated Stevenson 64-44 Tuesday to improve to 10-2.