LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, Ga. -- Jacole Hairston had 14 points, Katy Kipps had 12 points and Lindsay Martin had 11 points as Ferrum College opened USA South Athletic Conference play with a 78-44 win over league newcomer Covenant tonight on the road.

Jessie Blankenship had 15 points and 10 rebounds for the Scots (3-6, 0-1 USA South). Jessica Rhodes and Krista Cox had nine points each for the Panthers, which led 40-26 at halftime. Cox was 3-for-6 from behind the three-point line. The Panthers shot 55% from the floor, while holding Covenant to just 25%.

Ferrum (5-0, 1-0 USA South) returns to action Saturday, Jan. 4, at Maryville College. The USA South doubleheader starts at 2:00 p.m. in Maryville, Tennessee, with the women's game, and the men follow at 4:00 p.m.