FERRUM, Va. — The Averett University women's basketball team dropped its first conference game of the season to Ferrum College 78-62 on Friday night at Swartz Gym.  
 
Ferrum (4-6, 2-0 USA South) set the tone early, knocking down four 3-pointers in the first quarter to build an early lead, and the Cougars were unable to overcome a 19-point deficit from the beginning of the second quarter.
 
Senior forward Oneka Jones was called for two quick fouls in the first quarter, leaving an already undersized Averett team vulnerable in the middle, and that's when the Panthers began to connect on the inside as well.
 
Despite the mismatch in the post, Averett (3-4, 0-1 USA South) picked up its defense, especially on the perimeter. The Cougars were spearheaded by guards Jessica Myers and Alixis Roccia at the top of the defense and forced eight turnovers in the second quarter that led to quick and easy scoring in transition.  
 
Later on, junior guard Ariana Covington found sophomore guard Joelle Deese for a spot-up three to put the Cougars within 10 points, and Roccia knocked down two free throws to close the gap even more at 40-32 with 2:43 left in the second frame. Ferrum maintained its lead going into the break with a 47-32 advantage and held on for the remainder of the game.
 
In terms of scoring, Averett hung tight with Ferrum in the second, third and fourth quarters with only a three-point difference in each of the frames, but unfortunately for the Cougars, it wasn't enough to bounce back from the deficit built in the first quarter.
 
Roccia led Averett with 16 points and tied her career-high of five steals, and Myers added 15 points, four assists and three steals. Deese went 4-for-7 from behind the arc to finish with 14 points.
 
The Cougars will look to redeem themselves when they return to action on Saturday, Jan. 2, to host Hollins University at the Grant Center with a 2 p.m. tip-off following the men's game at noon.