Women's Basketball Completes Season Sweep Of Covenant

LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, Ga.- Following up on their 18 point victory at Wesleyan this week, Huntingdon Women's Basketball swept the season series against their second conference opponent in seven days, taking down the Scots of Covenant College 82-70 on the road. 

First Quarter

After narrowly defeating the Scots earlier this month at home, the Hawks opened today's contest with an explosive first quarter offensively, putting up 25 points while limiting the Scots to just 12, setting the tone early. That said, the first few minutes were highly-contested, as baskets from Makayla Ford and Deshauna Foote to get things going put Huntingdon ahead by just two, 7-5, before Covenant took an 8-7 lead at the 4:50 mark. From this point, everything went right for Huntingdon in the quarter. Foote and Ford continued to shoulder the load offensively, scoring the team's first 16 points before Kennedi McCray and Jayla Carter brought the lead to double-digits, 19-8, with 2:13 left in the quarter. Closing things out strong, seven combined points from Carter and Dalyce Sanders brought the score to 25-12 entering the second quarter.

Second Quarter

Things played out much more evenly in the second period, as each squad put 17 points on the board to bring the Hawks halftime advantage to 42-29. Abby Byrd got the scoring started with a short jumper before the Scots battled to bring the lead to just 10, 28-18 by the 7 minute mark. Makayla Ford, still hot from three following the first quarter, sank another at the 6:48 mark to kick off a solo five-point scoring stretch that brought the lead back to 33-18. Kiya Crayton and Ashanti Thomas joined in on the scoring before Erica Rodriguez sank a shot from three to extend the advantage to 40-22 with 3 minutes remaining in the half. Down the stretch however, it was all Covenant, as the Scots outscored the Hawks 7-2 to cut into the deficit, but Huntingdon remained in front at the break. 

Third Quarter

The third quarter saw more of the same, as Huntingdon matched Covenant's 20 point outing with 20 points of their own to keep control of the contest. Once again, it was Ford shouldering the load for the Hawks offense, as she put up 7 of the team's first 14 points in the quarter as the lead remained at 13, 51-38, approaching the final six minutes in the quarter. Led by Deshauna Foote, Ford, and Abby Byrd, the Huntingdon lead swelled to as much as 18, 60-42, by the 4 minute mark, but yet again, Covenant closed things with a seven-2 run to bring the score to 62-49 with one quarter remaining. 

Fourth Quarter

The Scots kicked off the final quarter strong, opening things with a run that brought the lead to single digits for the first time since the first quarter, as a three with 8 minutes to go brought the score to 65-57. Ashanti Thomas and Kennedy McCray each followed with shots to momentarily bring the lead back to double-digits, but Covenant drew within as little as six inside the final four minutes. Down the stretch however, Huntingdon saw contributions from all over, as Foote, Ford, Thomas, McCray, and Charity Shaw each scored, putting away the Scots 82-70 and completing the sweep of the season series. 

Hawk Top Performers

• #2 Deshauna Foote- 20 points, 7 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 block
• #12 Makayla Ford- 24 points, 4 steals, 4 rebounds, 2 assists
• #35 Ashanti Thomas- 8 points, 14 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal

The Hawks will look to defend home court on February 3rd, as they welcome the Belhaven Blazers to Roland Arena for a key conference matchup.