Box Score

LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, Ga. — Covenant College retook the lead in the final minutes and held off Averett 75-72 in USA South Conference women's basketball action on Saturday afternoon.

Neither team led by more than three points over the final nine minutes. Averett (1-6, 0-2 USA South) took its first lead since the start of the second half with 2:11 to play when junior Aundrea Burns drained a jumper to put the Cougars ahead 69-68. Covenant (4-6, 1-1 USA South) answered with a 3-pointer to go back in front moments later and the Scots held off Averett the rest of the way. The Cougars had one final chance after Covenant missed a pair of free throws in the final seconds, but a 3-pointer at the buzzer was no good.

Covenant led for almost the entire first half despite Averett staying on the Scots' heels. The Cougars final broke through to take a 36-35 lead on sophomore Nicole Garcia's jumper with 38 seconds to play in the half. After a Covenant 3-pointer, Garcia hit another basket in the final seconds to tie the game at 38-38 at the break.

Garcia scored a career-high 15 points to lead Averett. Freshman Brianna Taylor matched her career high of 13 points off the bench, while Burns and sophomore Jessica Myers each finished with 11 points. Myers also added a career-best six assists. Senior Shannon Smith chipped in with 10 points and freshman Alexis Sollars had 10 rebounds and eight points for the Cougars.

Jessie Blankenship led five Scots in double figures with 16 points.

Averett matched its season high of shooting 44.6 percent from the floor, mirroring its percentage from Friday's game at Maryville.

The Cougars return home to play the University of Rochester on Wednesday at 2 p.m.