RALEIGH, N.C. — The Averett University women's basketball team fell 82-64 in a conference loss to Meredith College on Saturday afternoon.
 
Averett (7-11, 5-7 USA South) hung tight with Meredith in the first half and only trailed by seven at the break, but the difference-maker came in the second half.
 
Meredith, currently ranked second in the USA South North Division, was dominant on the glass and outrebounded Averett 51-35 in the game and 25-12 in the second half, leaving hardly any room for the Cougars to get second-chance opportunities. Meredith's Danielle Lee finished with a game-high 18 rebounds and 13 points to snag a double-double. Jessi Hayes also ended the afternoon with a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds.
 
Averett's senior point guard Aundrea Burns knocked down a 3-pointer to put the Cougars within one at the 16:30 mark, but Meredith (10-9, 9-4 USA South) shot 50 percent from the field in the second half to slowly pull away.  
 
Averett's Samm Chandler led all scorers with 17 points, with 15 points coming in the second half. The freshman shooting guard has scored in double figures in six of Averett's last seven games. She also had eight rebounds.
 
Junior guard Jessica Myers added 10 points for the Cougars and sophomore forwards Brianna Taylor and Alexis Sollars had eight points apiece. Taylor also matched her season-high of nine rebounds.
 
The Cougars return to action on Sunday to take on William Peace University in a USA South Conference matchup at 3 p.m.