RALEIGH, N.C. — The Averett University women's basketball team defeated conference opponent William Peace University 70-52 on Sunday afternoon.
 
Averett (8-11, 6-7 USA South) traded buckets with William Peace to begin the game, but eventually, the Cougars took over with an 18-5 run to go into halftime. Freshman guard Samm Chandler laid the ball in to put the Cougars ahead 15-14 with nine minutes left in the first half, and the Cougars stayed in front the rest of the way.
 
The Cougars were active on the offensive boards and netted 26 second-chance points, and they also outscored the Pacers 31-11 from the bench. Twenty-one of Averett's bench points came from sophomore forward Brianna Taylor, who also finished with eight rebounds.
 
William Peace (6-3, 3-10 USA South) trimmed the lead to seven on a Dejah Cheatem 3-pointer, but that was as close as the Pacers got to the Cougars. Averett led by as much as 21 in the second half.
 
Peace's Krystal Williams led all scorers with 19 points, and Ka'la Jordan finished with 11 points and 14 rebounds. Jordan and Derrica Jones combined for 27 of the Pacers' 42 rebounds.
 
Chandler added 14 points and six rebounds for the Cougars while freshman center Jonna Koski put up 11 points and nine rebounds.
 
The Cougars return to the Grant Center on Wednesday to host Mary Baldwin College at 7 p.m.