Box Score

DANVILLE, Va. — Montreat College pulled away down the stretch to hand Averett a 71-66 loss in the Cougars' season-opener on Saturday night at the Grant Center.

Averett (0-1) battled back from a first-half deficit and led by as much as three points following senior Mette Scheiman's 3-pointer gave the Cougars a 51-48 advantage with 7:20 to play. Yet, Montreat (6-1) responded with an 18-4 run to take control of the game with 2:47 to play.

Still, the young Cougars — who had six players make their collegiate debut — fought. Averett chipped Montreat's 11-point lead down to four on freshman Katy Stover's 3-pointer with 1:25 to play. The Cougars had a chance to get closer but missed a pair of free throws, then failed to get a defensive rebound on a pair of missed Montreat free throws seconds later. Time then ran out on the Cougars' comeback attempt.

Averett grabbed a lead in the opening minutes of the game, but Montreat's size gave the Cougars trouble early on as the Cavaliers crept out to a 33-22 lead with 2:32 left in the first half. Averett then used a 10-2 to cut its deficit to 35-32 by halftime.

Scheiman led Averett with 21 points and a career-best 14 rebounds. Senior Caroline Young added a career-high 10 points and seven rebounds for the Cougars, who also got six points apierce from sophomore Aundrea Burns and freshmen Ariana Covington and Brianna Greene.

Montreat got 30 of ots 71 points from the foul line as the Cavaliers had 43 free throw attempts. Averett, meanwhile, was 10 of 19 from the charity stripe.

Averett returns to action on Tuesday when the Cougars host Guilford College at 5:30 p.m.