This weekend, the Covenant women's basketball team opened up the 2022-2023 season with their second annual Mountaintop Madness tournament. In this tournament, Covenant hosted three teams and faced two. Brevard, Greenville, and Anderson were all invited to Lookout Mountain to kick-start basketball season here at Covenant College.
On Friday, November 11, the Scots faced off with the Anderson Ravens as their first official game on the year. Covenant Head Coach Skylar Bareford and her squad were matched-up against Covenant's former assistant women's basketball coach, Jon Gin, who is now the second-year head coach at Anderson.
Through a back-and-forth affair, Covenant was able to pull away from the Ravens near the end of the fourth quarter in order to take their first game of the season 65-56.
In the beginning of the match, the Scots were able to gain momentum early. Following the tip-off, won by Anderson, the Scots displayed a strong defensive front within the opening minutes of the game. Freshman Forward Ella Grace Squires, Senior Guard Ruthie Moore, and Sophomore Forward Abby Witt all contributed early blocks, not allowing Anderson's offense to gain any traction.
Down by three heading into the second quarter, Anderson attempted to slow Covenant's offense by applying presses and double teams on nearly every ball-handler outside of the three-point line. However, the Scots were able to handle the pressure, extending their lead to 18-11. Nevertheless, the Ravens did not let up, battling back and bringing the first half to a close at 30 a-piece.
After another close quarter following the start of the second half, Covenant was able to gain traction as the game neared the final ten minutes. The Scots had a four-point advantage heading into the fourth quarter, the score sitting right at 46-42.
Foul trouble for Anderson in the final quarter began to open up Covenant's offensive approach and led to a stretch of consistent baskets and a healthy lead of 58-46 with five minutes left in the game. Clutch fourth-quarter performances by both Ella Grace Squires, who pitched in five points and two defensive rebounds, and Breezy Savage, who totaled four points and an offensive rebound in the fourth, pulled the Scots away from Anderson. These key plays were crucial in maintaining the lead for the rest of the contest.
By the time the final buzzer sounded, the Scots had won by a score of 65-56. Earning the victory in their first game, Covenant begins the year with a winning record and a promising start to the season. Despite amassing 34 turnovers throughout the game, the Scots showed outstanding effort on the glass, out-rebounding the Ravens 59 to 40.
Senior Guard Ruthie Moore notched a double-double with 11 points and 16 rebounds, while Sophomore Forward Abby Witt added 11 points and 11 rebounds of her own to record herself a double-double as well. Breezy Savage was just one rebound shy of registering the Scots' third double-double of the night. Savage pitched in 10 points and 9 rebounds on the night.
Though the Scots had a great season opener on Friday night, today the Scots did not find such luck. In the second match-up for Covenant in Mountaintop Madness, the Scots saw the Greenville Panthers, who had also won the previous night.
There was never a point in the game where the Scots held the lead. The Panthers' full-court press established Greenville's court presence early on, ending the first quarter already eight baskets ahead of the Scots. Covenant quickly fell behind Greenville's pressure style of play, and the Panthers were able to extend their lead to 34 in the third quarter.
However, the Scots never lost their fight, chipping down the lead to finalize the match at 55-78, 23 points behind the Panthers. Greenville had five players hit double digits in points scored, compared to Covenant's one.
Abby Witt led the Scots in match two for Covenant with 12 points and 10 rebounds, going 2-2 on double-doubles for the weekend. Witt was Covenant's overall leader for of the tournament, totaling 23 points and 21 rebounds. Guards Karis McIntosh and Cosette Kirsch both chipped in eight points a-piece.
The Scots are set to play at home once again next Tuesday against Oglethorpe. Tip-off is at 6:00 PM.
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