Box Score


RALEIGH, N.C. — Averett erased a halftime deficit in the opening minutes of the second half as the Cougars completed the regular-season sweep with a 64-59 victory over Peace College on Monday night.

Averett (6-4, 3-2 USA South), which trailed by two points at halftime, regained the lead it had relinquished late in the first half less than two minutes into the second period. Sophomore Liz Martin hit a layup to put the Cougars ahead 32-30. Although Peace (4-7, 1-5 USA South) tied the game briefly, Averett's offense found its rhythm and the Cougars methodically increased their lead midway through the half.

The Cougars' lead grew to as much as 10 points after an Emily Barr basket gave Averett a 57-47 with 4:23 to play. The Pacers kept fighting down the stretch and cut the Averett advantage to four points with nine seconds remaining, but the Cougars held on the final seconds to notch their second win over Peace this season.

Averett also defeated Peace 48-35 on Jan. 2 in Danville.

Senior Kristyn Wharton and junior Ashley Washington helped Averett jump out to a 9-0 lead to open the game. Peace scored the next seven points to close the gap and eventually took a 20-17 lead on a Leanne Horne 3-pointer with just under seven minutes left in the half.

The two teams swapped leads four more times the rest of the half before Peace took a 30-28 advantage into the locker rooms.

Washington scored a game-high 21 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead the Cougars, who also got 10 points and seven rebounds off the bench from Barr. Wharton and Martin finished with nine points each.

Karissa Herring led the Pacers with 15 points and 14 rebounds, while Horne added 12 points.

Averett returns to action on Wednesday at Methodist University at 5:30 p.m.