JACKSON, Miss. - The Belhaven women's basketball team will ring in the New Year with a 79-69 victory over the Covenant Scots on Saturday in Rugg Arena thanks to 10 fourth quarter steals, 12 Covenant turnovers and 15 Blazers points off those turnovers. 

In the first quarter, it was Candler Gregory that kept the Green and Gold (6-5) in the contest early. The senior drained three of her first four shots from downtown. Her third shot from beyond the arc gave the Blazers the early 11-10 lead with 6:18 left in the opening quarter. 

In the second quarter, with the Green and Gold leading 19-15, the Scots (5-4) stayed in the contest with their second chance points. Covenant totaled 13 rebounds, seven on the offensive glass, with nine second-chance points, while shooting 41 percent (7-for-17) from the field. However, the Blazers outscored the Scots, 19-15, in the quarter to give the Green and Gold the 38-30 advantage at intermission. 

Even though the Scots outrebounded the Blazers on the offensive glass, 16-7, Belhaven forced 15 Covenant turnovers, including a 14-9 advantage with points off turnovers. 

In the third quarter, the Scots responded with a 22-13 score to give Covenant their first lead since a 10-8 lead with 6:47 remaining in the first quarter. The Scots led 52-51 heading into the fourth quarter, despite one offensive rebound in the quarter. 

Both teams were neck-and-neck heading into the final quarter. After a Covenant layup to tie the score at 59, on their next possession, the Blazers were charged a shooting foul beyond the arc for three Covenant free throws. After a perfect trip to the charity stripe, the Scots led 62-59 with 5:41 left in regulation. 

The lead would not last long for the Scots, thanks to two straight steals by Sierra Pittman. After a Samara Dingiswayo fast break layup, Ke'Asia Gray's fast break layup gave the Blazers the 63-62 lead, which they would not relinquish. 

15 of the Blazers 28 fourth quarter points were off turnovers, forcing 12 Covenant miscues on Belhaven's 10 steals. The Blazers shot 11-for-21 (52 percent) from the field in the final 10 minutes.

Dingisawyo and Pittman each scored a team-high 17 points in the win. Dingisawyo added five rebounds, four steals and three assists and blocks each.

Along with her 17 points, Pittman had a career-high seven steals, with six coming in the fourth quarter. The senior added seven dimes to her day. 

Thanks to her hot start from three-point land, Gregory finished with 16 points, adding two assists. 

Vamikka Smith had a game-high 11 boards to go with nine points and two blocks and steals each. 

Aleigha Williams led the Scots with a game-high 20 points with five rebounds. 

The Green and Gold forced a season high 30 turnovers, matching the most since Jan. 28, 2016 against UT Dallas. 

Belhaven's 79 points are a season-high, and it is the most in the Blazers' NCAA Division III era. 

Finishing 5-2 in nonconference action, the Blazers return to American Southwest Conference (ASC) play on Thursday to conclude the conference schedule against the ASC West. Belhaven will host Howard Payne on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. before wrapping up the homestand with Sul Ross State on Jan. 7 at 1 p.m. 

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