DANVILLE, Va. — In its 2018-19 home opener, the Averett University women's basketball team fell to Ferrum College, 75-68, on Tuesday night in the Grant Center.

Averett (2-2) went into the fourth quarter with a 60-52 lead, but Ferrum (2-2) outscored the Cougars 23-8 in the final quarter to earn the win. Averett shot 26-64 from the field and 5-17 from 3-point range while the Panthers shot 29-57 from the floor and 3-10 from 3-point range. Additionally, the Cougars out-rebounded Ferrum 46-33, including 22 offensive rebounds.

Averett got off to a good start, jumping out to a 9-6 lead with the help of a 3-pointer from senior Alixis Roccia. The teams went back and forth from there as the Cougars held a slight 21-17 advantage heading into the second quarter. Averett went on a 5-0 run to open the second quarter with a 26-17 lead, its largest of the half. Ferrum cut the gap from here, though, as the Cougars held a 36-35 lead at the end of the first half.

Averett got off to a good start in the third quarter, going on a 10-2 run to take a 47-41 lead with 6:11 remaining in the third. The Cougars would end the quarter with a 60-52 lead. Ferrum then got the hot hand in the fourth quarter, taking a 65-64 lead with 5:08 left in the game and didn't relinquish the lead from there.

Junior Brooke Carthon led the team with 23 points, nine rebounds, four assists and four steals. Roccia also had a big game with 16 points, including four 3-pointers, with four rebounds, seven assists and five steals. Senior Amani Ajayi joined them in double figures with 10 points and eight rebounds.

The Cougars return home in another doubleheader on Nov. 28 against Southern Virginia University at 5 p.m.