FREDERICKSBURG, Va. — Junior Samm Chandler scored a career-high 32 points, and the Averett University women's basketball team picked up a convincing 79-66 win over Alvernia University in Sunday's University of Mary Washington Hyatt Place Tipoff Tournament at the Anderson Center.
 
Chandler was on fire from 3-point range, finishing 3 of 4 from beyond the arc. She also shot well from the floor, sinking 14 of her 18 shots.
 
Chandler, who was named to the all-tournament team, was one of three Cougars to finish the game with double-digit scoring. Senior Jonna Koski added 13 points while junior Frida Lundquist chipped in with 11.
 
Averett (2-1) led by as many 19 when sophomore Amani Ajayi nailed her layup in the paint near the end of the third period to put the Cougars in front 68-49. However, Alvernia (0-3) responded well and trimmed its down to 72-66 with 2:19 remaining in regulation. The Cougars didn't panic and closed out the game with five consecutive points on their way to picking up the double-digit victory.
 
The Cougars dominated the Crusaders under the boards, finishing with a 54-40 advantage in rebounds. Koski paced Averett with 11 rebounds to finish off her double-double. Chandler pulled down 10 boards on her way to recording her second double-double of the season.
 
Averett shot 44.6 from the floor and went 9 for 15 from the charity stripe in the victory.
 
Facing a seven-point deficit near the end of the second period, Alvernia went on a 12-6 run over the closing minutes of the first half to trim its deficit to 37-36 heading into the break.
 
Averett, though, opened the second half strong on its way to rebuilding its advantage back to double-digits when Chandler drilled a 3-pointer to make it 55-44 at the 4:15 mark of the third quarter.
 
The Cougars open up their home schedule on Nov. 28 when they host Roanoke College at 6 p.m. at the Grant Center.