Box Score


DANVILLE, Va. — Averett battled from behind to take the lead in the second half, but couldn't hang on as Bridgewater College spoiled the Cougars' home-opener with a 63-56 victory at the Grant Center on Tuesday evening.

Averett (5-2) trailed by as many as 14 points early in the second half before mounting a comeback. Down 41-27, the Cougars put together a 14-2 run to close the Bridgewater lead to 43-41 with 8:52 to play. Most of that run came without leading scorer Ashley Washington on the floor. Washington, who finished with 11 points and nine rebounds, suffered an injury midway through the second half and didn't return.

Bridgewater (6-0) kept Averett at bay momentarily, but the Cougars finally broke through to take a 49-47 lead on Mette Scheiman's 3-pointer in the corner. However, that Averett lead was short-lived as Bridgewater's Jordan Burkholder answered with a 3-pointer of her own at the other end to put the Eagles back in front with 3:59 remaining.

The Eagles scored eight straight points to build their lead back up and hit their free throws late to thwart another Averett rally.

The Cougars overcame a dismal first half that saw them commit 19 turnovers and shoot 24 percent from the floor, yet only trail 27-19 at halftime.

Scheiman led Averett with 13 points.

Burkholder scored a game-high 20 points for Bridgewater, which also got 14 points from Jessica Mullen.