Box Score
GREENSBORO, N.C. — Averett rallied from a double-digit deficit to take the lead late, but Greensboro College escaped with a 75-72 conference win on Wednesday night.
After trailing by as much as 16 points in the first half, Averett (2-12, 1-7 USA South) stormed back to take its first lead of the game, 67-66, on a jumper by freshman
Alexis Sollars with 1:55 to play. Greensboro (11-4, 7-2 USA South) answered with a layup at the other end to regain the lead, but another basket by Sollars put the Cougars back on top. A pair of Pride foul shots once again put Greensboro up by one but senior
Shannon Smith drained a 3-pointer to give Averett a 72-70 advantage with 1:02 to play.
Greensboro tied the game on its ensuing possession, then got the ball back after the Cougars were called for an offensive foul. Chevena Pickard's layup gave the Pride a 74-72 lead with under 30 seconds to play. Pickard was also fouled on the play but missed the free throw. Following a timeout with 20.3 seconds to play, Averett missed a 3-pointer from the corner and Greensboro got the rebound with nine seconds left. Alexis Hite hit one of two free throws, leaving the door open for the Cougars. Averett, however, missed a game-tying 3-pointer in the final seconds as the Pride held on.
Smith, who missed the start of the season with a hand injury, poured in a season-high 15 points and Sollars added a career-best 13 points in the loss.
Averett struggled out of the gate as Greensboro built a 19-4 lead in a little more than five minutes. The Pride lead reached as much as 16 points before Averett slowly chipped away. Sollars drained a 3-pointer to cut the Cougars' deficit to 33-29 with four minutes left in the half. Although Greensboro took a 42-32 lead into halftime, Averett's run to get back into the game gave the Cougars confidence going into the second half.
The Cougars shot a season-best 46.3 percent from the field. Freshman
Brianna Taylor added 12 points and sophomore
Nicole Garcia scored 11 points off the bench. Sophomore
Oneka Jones had a team-high eight rebounds.
Shanita Hampton scored a game-high21 points for Greensboro, which also got 16 points from Pickard
Averett hosts Methodist University on Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Grant Center.