DANVILLE, Va. — The Averett University women's basketball team led the entire way in a 69-59 conference victory over Ferrum College on Wednesday night at the Grant Center.
 
Averett (7-10, 5-6 USA South) came out strong in the first half with solid defense and capitalized on Ferrum's mishaps throughout the game to score 32 points off turnovers.
 
The Cougars moved the ball well and attacked Ferrum's 1-3-1 defense, allowing them to drive to the hole and kick the ball out for open shots. They led by as much as 15 and hit a season-high of 10 3-pointers with eight coming in the first half. Freshman guard Joelle Deese sank three of four shots from downtown to finish the night with a career-best nine points.
 
Ferrum (9-8, 7-4 USA South) struggled on offense to move without the ball and coughed up 28 turnovers. Senior Jacole Hairston had trouble creating her own shots but still knocked down spot-up jumpers. She put up 22 points for the Panthers. Ferrum's Zarkia Mattox produced the only double-double of the game with 16 and 12 rebounds.
 
Freshman guard Samm Chandler led Averett with 17 points, eight rebounds and five steals. Senior point guard Aundrea Burns finished with 10 points and five steals to go with a career-high seven assists.
 
Averett, currently ranked fourth in the USA South's North Division, travels to Raleigh, North Carolina, this weekend to play Meredith College at 2 p.m. on Saturday and William Peace University at 3 p.m. on Sunday.