DANVILLE, Va. – The Averett University women's basketball team worked its way back from a large deficit in the first quarter, but it wasn't enough as Roanoke College defeated the Cougars 78-77 in a close non-conference contest on Monday night at the Grant Center.
 
Roanoke (3-2) created a 20-point gap in the first eight minutes of action, however, Averett (2-2) slowly began to chip at the Maroons' lead. A jumper from Frida Lundquist sparked a 14-2 run for the Cougars, and they found themselves within eight with 1:51 to go in the first half, eventually going into the break only four points behind. Lundquist ended the night with a season-high 19 points and nine rebounds.
 
As Averett continued to fight back, the Maroons kept knocking down baskets to maintain the lead, forcing their way into the middle to take high-percentage shots. Roanoke attempted just five shots from behind the arc and scored 42 points in the paint.
 
Freshman guard Brooke Carthon, who has put up big numbers for the Cougars this season, got her squad within two points with two minutes remaining in regulation. On an inbound play, junior shooting guard Samm Chandler found Carthon under the basket for a quick layup. In Roanoke's following possession, Chandler stole the ball from Jamela Foster and connected on the other end with an and-1 basket to finally get Averett over the hump, taking its first lead of the game 72-71. Chandler walked off the court with a double-double of 21 points and 12 rebounds along with seven steals and five assists.
 
Although Roanoke retaliated with five straight points to move ahead by four, junior guard Joelle Deese knocked down a 3-pointer from the top of the key with 18.1 seconds closing the gap again to one, but the situation caused them to foul since they were still behind. Roanoke's Allison Yeaw sank both attempts from free throw line that led to the Maroons' eventual victory.
 
Both of Averett's losses this season have only been by one point.
 
Carthon put up 12 points and seven rebounds as Averett senior center Jonna Koski added 16 points and seven rebounds.
 
Cary Beahm led the Maroons with a double-double of 16 points and 11 rebounds before fouling out, and Jamela Foster finished with 18 points and nine assists.
 
Averett hits the road on Wednesday, Nov. 30, for the first of a four-game road trip. The Cougars face Salem College in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, at 7 p.m.