DANVILLE, Va. – The Averett University women's basketball team defeated Ferrum College 74-61 in conference action on Sunday afternoon at the Grant Center.
 
Sunday's game was completely different from the previous meeting between the two teams. The Cougars knew what they were up against, and they were ready to redeem themselves.
 
With its intense defense in the first quarter, Averett (6-5, 1-2 USA South) made Ferrum commit two shot clock violations and blocked four shots in just the first frame while senior guard Jessica Myers connected on the offensive end to get things going for the Cougars. In the opening three minutes, Myers went 4-for-4, all layups, to snag Averett's first eight points, and she finished the afternoon with 12 while tying her career-high of six assists.
 
Junior guard Ariana Covington sank a free throw to help stretch Averett's lead to 37-27 with 1:40 to go in the first half, and the Cougars maintained an eight-point advantage (37-29) at the break to continue its momentum in the second half.
 
The Panthers were 3-for-13 from the field in the third quarter as the Cougars forced them to take rushed shots, with the shot clock winding down to single digits during many of Ferrum's possessions.
 
"It was a hard fought battle," Averett head coach Liz Hickey said. "Our defensive rotation was the best it has been all season, and it was a great first conference win."
 
While the Panthers couldn't break down Averett's defense, the Cougars capitalized on their own opportunities with senior forward Oneka Jones spearheading the effort. Jones had a perfect game as she worked the post with strength on the inside to finish 8-for-8 from the field and 1-for-1 from the charity stripe, notching a career-high of 17 points and a season-high nine rebounds and two blocks.
 
Averett remained aggressive throughout the game and penetrated the gaps to attack the basket and draw fouls, which turned out to be successful as three Panthers fouled out. The Cougars moved ahead by as much as 18 when Averett split Ferrum's full-court press in the fourth quarter. Junior guard DaQuila Washington found sophomore guard Joelle Deese for a baseline jumper to put Averett ahead 62-44 with 7:26 left in regulation as the Cougars continued to keep a comfortable lead.
 
In the last meeting, which was the conference opener for both squads, Ferrum (5-9, 3-2 USA South) knocked down seven 3-pointers in the first half alone, but this afternoon, the Cougars held the Panthers to just three triples the entire game.
 
Sophomore shooting guard Samm Chandler paced the Cougars with 22 points, with 12 coming from the free throw line. She also snagged six rebounds. Deese added 12 points and sophomore guard Frida Lundquist hauled in a career-high of eight rebounds.  
 
Ferrum's Kemani Crawford led her team with 21 points and nine rebounds.
 
The Cougars returns to the court on Wednesday, Jan. 13, when they head to Staunton, Virginia, to face Mary Baldwin College at 7:30 p.m. in USA South action.