DECATUR, Ga.—A strong shooting performance carried visiting Maryville to a 77-48 win over Agnes Scott in USA South Women's Basketball action on Saturday, January 5, 2019, at the Woodruff Gymnasium. Maryville improves to 5-8 and 3-1 in the conference, while Agnes Scott dips to 0-14 and 0-5.
Both teams came ready to play from the opening tip as neither shot below 60 percent over the first 10 minutes of action. Agnes Scott shot a season-best 75 percent for the quarter, making six of its eight attempts from the floor to keep a red-hot Maryville squad from taking an unreachable lead.
Maryville sophomore Klaire Varney (Crossville, Tenn.) was a consistent force behind the Scots' offensive barrage, making seven of nine shots from the floor in the first half for a total of 16 points. Behind Varney, Maryville was able to find opportunities in transition both inside and out which led to a 52.9 mark from the floor in the first half.
After the Scotties had trimmed a nine-point deficit to just three points at 25-22 to start the second quarter, Maryville went on an 18-2 over the final 8:08 of the period to turn a close game on its head.
Agnes Scott committed 16 turnovers in the period, many of them coming in the changeover between the end of the first and beginning of the second quarter.
Kalin Smith (Kiln, Miss.) as the top scorer in the first half for Agnes Scott with seven points.
The Scotties got as close as 17 points after a made three from Smith in the middle of the third quarter, but Varney nailed an answer just 10 seconds later to push the Scots on another big run.
Varney finished the day with 26 points on 10-of-14 shooting, including making three of four from the outside. Elsa Eckenrod (McMinnville, Tenn.) also had a strong day with nine points, 11 rebounds, and six assists.
The Scots finished with 23 assists compared to only eight for Agnes Scott.
The Scotties were paced by a fairly even effort from their starting five. Garis Grant (Charleston, S.C.) led the team with 11 points and 11 rebounds, her first double-double since posting them back-to-back at the Agnes Scott Tip-Off Classic on the opening weekend.
Smith finished with 10 points, while Briana Holland (Austell, Ga.) and Shay Sweat (Lawrenceville, Ga.) both chipped in eight points.
Agnes Scott is back on its home court tomorrow afternoon when Piedmont (10-3) comes to town for a 2 p.m. start.
