DANVILLE, Va. — The Averett University women's basketball team fell to conference foe Maryville College in a 69-52 home loss on Friday night.
 
Maryville (8-1, 1-0 USA South) pulled away early with the help of Mackenzie Puckett's 15 points in the first half to lead Averett 40-27 at halftime.
 
Although Frida Lundquist knocked down a 3-pointer to tie the game at 25 with 3:21 left in the first period of action, Averett (2-5, 1-1 USA South) was unable to halt the Scots' scoring. Maryville scored in seven consecutive possessions in the last three minutes of the first half to regain the lead going on a 15-2 run into the break. 
 
The Cougars couldn't shift the momentum back their way in the second half shooting only 30 percent from the field and 10 percent from behind the arc to suffer their first conference loss of the season.
 
Freshman guard Samm Chandler led the Cougars with 14 points to tie her career-high and sophomore forward Brianna Taylor finished with 12 points, five rebounds and two steals.  
 
Averett returns to the court on Saturday to play conference opponent Covenant College at the Grant Center at 6 p.m.