DANVILLE, Va. — The Averett University women's basketball team came out triumphant in an 84-76 conference win over Meredith College in the last game of the regular season.
 
Averett (14-11, 9-7 USA South) led 36-35 at halftime, but the Cougars stretched the deficit with a 13-2 run. Sophomore shooting guard Samm Chandler dished out one of her career-high seven assists to junior guard Ariana Covington who hit a shot from behind the arc to kickstart the run. On the defensive end, Averett held off the Avenging Angels' scoring from the field. Meredith (8-17, 6-10 USA South) didn't score a field goal for four-and-a-half minutes in a third quarter. Both points during the run were from the free throw line.
 
The Cougars maintained composure for the remainder of the game and pulled ahead by as much as 15 when freshman guard Alixis Roccia knocked down a three to extend the score to 58-43 with 2:52 on the clock. Later on in the fourth quarter, Raven Gregory sank a jumper that put Meredith within five (75-70) at the 2:13 mark, but Chandler answered with another 3-pointer to help Averett run away with the win.
 
Four Cougars finished in double figures as Chandler and Covington led the way with 15 points apiece, and sophomore guard Joelle Deese chipped in 14 points and eight rebounds. Senior guard Jessica Myers added 13 points, seven assists and four steals for the Cougars while senior forward Oneka Jones notched 11 rebounds and nine points. Both Myers and Jones were honored during Averett's Senior Day.  
 
Meredith's Jessi Hayes finished with 25 points and 14 rebounds.
 
Averett earned the No. 7 seed in the USA South Conference Tournament and will take on No. 2 Piedmont College on Thursday, Feb. 25, at 3 p.m. in Maryville, Tennessee.