GREENSBORO, N.C. — The Averett University women's basketball team dropped a Sunday matinee at Greensboro College, 80-78. Junior Amani Ajayi finished with a double-double, scoring 14 points while grabbing 10 rebounds.
 
The first quarter was tightly contested as Averett (3-3, 1-1 USA South) held a slight advantage at 21-19 heading into the second quarter. With Greensboro (6-0, 3-0 USA South) leading 7-5 early in the quarter, the Cougars put together a 9-2 run paced by a three-pointer and a layup in transition from sophomore Brooke Carthon.
 
Averett kept the lead into the early stages of the second quarter until a jumper from A'Liyah Woods gave the Pride the lead at 32-31. The Cougars responded a couple of minutes later when junior Alixis Roccia and sophomore Samantha Tecson each knocked down a shot from long range to give Averett the lead back at 37-32. The Cougars would maintain the lead over the final minutes of the first half and go into halftime with a 42-38 lead.
 
A made basket by Ajayi with 7:43 to play in the third quarter pushed the Averett lead to 46-40. After this, Greensboro put together an 18-6 run over the next 4:51 seconds of game time to open up their own six-point lead at 58-52. A couple of made baskets from senior Samm Chandler and one from Carthon tied the game at 58 where it would stand heading into the final quarter.
 
The fourth quarter was a back and forth affair throughout the entire frame that saw the lead change five times. Ajayi pushed the Averett lead to 78-75 with 2:17 left before Rasheika Gregory cut the Cougar lead to one with just over a minute to play. Head coach Randy Tuggle called a 30 second timeout after an Averett turnover with 14 seconds left to play in regulation. Out of the timeout, Laprecious England grabbed an offensive rebound and made a put-back while getting fouled. She made the free throw to convert on the three-point play to give her team the 80-78 lead with three seconds left to play. At this point, head coach Liz Hickey called a 30 second timeout of her own. The Cougars were unable to score on the ensuing possession and were defeated by Greensboro, 80-78.
 
Averett had four players finish in double figures, while the Cougar bench outscored that of Greensboro, 29-13.
 
Averett is back in action on Saturday, Dec. 16, when they travel to Maryville, Tennessee to play Piedmont College as part of the East-West Classic hosted by Maryville College. Tip off is set for 5 p.m.