Scots Drop 73-68 Decision at Belhaven

JACKSON, Miss. – It was another oh-so-close effort for the Maryville Scots.

Maryville trimmed a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit to one with 2:51 remaining but never could grab the lead before falling 73-68 to Belhaven on Saturday. The Scots suffered their fourth conference loss out of five this season by six points or fewer.

The host Blazers led 34-31 at halftime, with the teams combining for all seven ties and all seven lead changes during those opening 20 minutes. Belhaven stretched its advantage to 55-45 entering the fourth quarter, and then a pair of 3-pointers from CCS Rookie of the Year front-runner Shantashia John pushed the margin to 61-47 with 8:50 remaining.

But Maryville responded. The Scots slowly peeled away at the Belhaven lead, putting together a 17-4 run capped by Olivia Cathers' jump shot in the paint that pulled Maryville within 65-64 with still 2:51 remaining.

Courtney Carruthers scored 11 of her team-high 25 points during that 6-minute stretch, including three of her four 3-pointers.

The teams traded baskets over the next two minutes, with Carruthers connecting in the paint and Emma Huskey converting a second-chance layup that made it 69-68 Belhaven with 58 seconds remaining. But Belhaven hit four of its last six attempts from the free throw line while Maryville turned the ball over twice, and that was that.

John led all scorers with 31 points, making 6-of-10 from 3-point distance. Ebony Gayden added 19 points for the Blazers and Xhiir Burgess finished with 10 points and a game-high 15 boards.

For Maryville, Carruthers had a team-leading four assists to go with her 25 points, and Huskey posted her fifth double-double of the season with 18 points and 12 boards. Huskey was 7-of-9 from the floor and had three steals. Madison Williams pitched in with seven points and eight rebounds.

Maryville outrebounded the hosts 38-32 and converted that into a 19-7 scoring edge in second-chance points. Belhaven's advantage came in points-off-turnovers by a 21-11 margin.

Maryville is now 8-11 and 5-5, while Belhaven improved to 12-6 overall and 7-3 in the CCS. The Scots are back in action next weekend at LaGrange on Friday and at Huntingdon on Saturday.