DANVILLE, Va. — Piedmont College used a 9-0 run late in the first half to change the tone of the game and seal a 77-60 conference victory over the Averett University women's basketball team on Sunday afternoon.
 
Averett (6-8, 4-4 USA South) looked solid in the first half shooting 44 percent from the field and outrebounding Piedmont 26-16. Sophomore forward Alexis Sollars extended the gap to eight after draining a baseline jumper on a feed from senior point guard Aundrea Burns to give the Cougars their largest lead of the game with 8:21 remaining in the half.
 
Though the Cougars were successful on their end, the Lions crept back, specifically scoring in a series of three consecutive offensive rebounds to cut the lead to three. Piedmont's Erin Clifford drilled a spot-up 3-pointer to knot the game at 35-35 with 55 seconds on the clock and capitalized off an Averett turnover a few seconds later to take a 37-35 lead going into halftime.
 
Averett only led once in the second half with a layup from freshman guard Samm Chandler to put Averett ahead 40-39. Piedmont (14-2, 7-1 USA South) regained the advantage with a 10-0 run and maintained the lead for the rest of the game with three players in double figures. Le'Shaunda Jones led the Lions with 12 points, and Erin Clifford finished with 11 points as Chandler Alverson ended the night with 10.
 
Averett's Chandler led all scorers with 13 points and a career-high 13 of rebounds. This was Chandler's second consecutive game scoring and rebounding in double figures. Freshman center Jonna Koski put up seven points and 10 rebounds while Sollars and sophomore guard Da'Shanae Hardy each finished with nine points. Hardy also added four assists.
 
Averett returns to the Grant Center on Wednesday to take on Greensboro College in a USA South conference matchup at 7 p.m.