BRISTOL, Tenn. - No. 5 seed Covenant (Ga.) College grabbed the early advantage and never let go as the Lady Scots ousted No. 4 seed Union College 75-69 from the quarterfinal round of the Appalachian Athletic Conference Women's Basketball Tournament Thursday.

The loss ends the Lady Bulldogs' quest for a third-straight AAC Tournament crown as they finish the season 20-11 overall. Meanwhile, Covenant (18-12 overall) moves on to fact top-seeded King (Tenn.) College Friday at 2 p.m.

Union got off to a sluggish start as Covenant raced to a 23-8 lead by the 10:56 mark. Using a 7-2 spurt, the Lady Bulldogs cut the margin to 25-18 after an old-fashioned, three-point play by Carley Blankenship (Lexington, Ky.) with 7:30 remaining in the half.

However, Union could not get any closer before the break as Covenant stretched the margin to 39-24 at the half. The 15-point halftime deficit was the largest the Lady Bulldogs faced all season.

The fact Brooke Smith (Pineville, Ky.) got into early foul trouble did not help Union. The reigning, two-time AAC Player of the Year played just over five minutes in the first half after being called for two fouls. She had no points and two rebounds at the break.

Union showed some life in the second, but not before Covenant pushed its lead to 47-26 with 18:15 to play. The Lady Bulldogs cut the margin to eight or 10 points several times, yet could not threaten to take the lead. Down 71-61 with 2:27 left, Jessica Baker (Canmer, Ky.) hit a pair of free throw to make it an eight-point game. Then, with 1:20 to go, Baker was fouled attempted 3-pointer and a technical foul was called on the Covenant bench, giving the Lady Bulldogs five free throws. However, Union made just three of five to make it a 71-66 contest with 80 seconds remaining.

DeDe Walls hit a pair from the line to make 73-66 with 15 seconds left to essentially seal the win as the Lady Scots held on for the 75-69 victory.

This marks only the second time in program history and the first since 2004 that Union lost in the opening round of the AAC Tournament.

Despite being held scoreless in the first half, Smith bounced back to record a double-double as she led the team with 13 points and 12 rebounds. Susanna Todd (Eubank, Ky.) and Blankenship each added 12 points with Baker and Ashley Lunsford (Orlando, Ky.) chipping in 11 points.

For Covenant, Liz Martin led the way with 31 points, while Erika Forland had 10 points and 16 rebounds. Margaret Cross and Ashley Wilson each chipped in 10 points.

Lady Bulldog Notes

• Susanna Todd finishes her career with 271 3-pointers (school record), 1,348 points (sixth all-time) and 430 rebounds (10th all-time).
• The double-double was Brooke Smith's ninth of the season and 27th of her career.