Box Score


DANVILLE, Va. — Senior Nikki Huffman's 3-pointer with 5:49 to play gave Averett its first lead of the second half and the Cougars finished off Mary Baldwin College down the stretch for a 71-64 victory on Sunday at the Grant Center.

Averett, which trailed 36-31 at halftime, tied the game at 38-38 less than five minutes into the second half, but Mary Baldwin (4-15, 2-11 USA South) went on a 7-0 run to stay in front. The Cougars (11-7, 7-4 USA South) chipped away at the Fighting Squirrels' lead. Finally, Averett broke through on Huffman's 3-pointer — her only basket of the game — and the Cougars went ahead 54-52. It was their first lead since midway trough the first half.

Mary Baldwin's Jennifer Dobson hit one of two free throws on the other end, but Averett outscored the Squirrels 7-0 over the next minute and a half. The run culminated with a three-point play by senior Taylor Poirier, which put Averett ahead 61-53 with 4:03 to play.

The Cougars withstood a Mary Baldwin run that cut the lead to 63-62, but Averett went 8-for-10 from the foul line over the final two minutes to put the Squirrels away.

Sophomore Ashley Washington led the Cougars with 24 points and 14 rebounds, while Poirier added 14 points and nine assists. Junior Kristyn Wharton and freshman Liz Martin finished with 11 points each. Wharton also had nine rebounds.

Kara Hawkins was Mary Baldwin's leading scorer with 13 points. Christie Hamilton and Sabrina Desper scored 12 apiece, while Dobson contributed 11 points.

Averett went ahead 10-6 early in the first half before Mary Baldwin eventually pulled away to a five-point lead at the half.

The Cougars are just two wins shy of tying the school record for most victories in a season. In 1996-97, Averett went 13-12 — it's only winning season in the program's history.

The Cougars, who have won three in a row, return to action at Ferrum College on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.