Box Score

DANVILLE, Va. — Averett's women's basketball team rallied from a double-digit deficit to tie the game on a buzzer-beater at the end of regulation, then defeated Emory & Henry College 66-59 in overtime on Tuesday night at the Grant Center.

Averett (1-2), which trailed by as many as 12 points in the second half, fought its way back into the game down the stretch. Down 41-32 with 9:28 left in regulation, the Cougars used a 10-1 run capped by senior Shannon Smith's 3-pointer to tie the game at 42-42 with 6:43 to play. The two teams battled back and forth, with Averett taking its first lead of the second half, 55-54, on junior Aundrea Burns' 3-pointer with 1:08 to go. Emory & Henry (1-5) regained the lead with a pair of free throws with 33.1 seconds left. Averett missed a 3-pointer at the other end and the Wasps grabbed the rebound and tried to dribble out the clock before Kristie Langley was fouled with 15 seconds to play.

Langley made the first to put Emory & Henry ahead 57-55 but missed the second. Averett missed another 3-pointer in the final seconds and the Wasps grabbed the rebound. However, they turned the ball over, giving Averett possession at its own end with 0.7 seconds on the clock to set up a thrilling end to regulation. Smith, inbounding the ball, faked a pass to the perimeter and found a wide-open Alexis Sollars for an uncontested, game-tying layup as the horn sounded.

Averett used that momentum in overtime. Sophomore Oneka Jones hit a pair of baskets and sophomore Jessica Myers drained a huge 3-pointer as the Cougars outscored Emory & Henry 9-2 in the extra period to earn their first win of the season in their home opener.

Jones finished with a double-double, notching 12 points and tied her career high of 11 rebounds. Myers added 11 points while Sollars, a freshman, matched her career high of nine points to go with 10 rebounds. Freshman Brianna Taylor added 10 points off the bench. Sophomore Micah Andrews and freshman Da'Shanae Hardy each added a career-high seven points. Burns also finished with seven points and six rebounds.

The Cougars rebounded from a rough first half. Averett led 13-10 with 9:38 left before the half, but Emory & Henry rattled off a 15-2 run over the next seven minutes to take control as the Wasps eventually took a 29-17 lead into the break.

Averett returns to action at Washington & Lee University on Dec. 16 for the start of a strech of four consecutive road games.