FERRUM, Va. — The Averett University women's basketball team fell to Maryville College, 71-57, in a non-conference matchup Saturday afternoon to finish play at the Ferrum College Invitational.

Averett (5-5), which trailed by 10 at halftime, battled back to within 49-45 late in the third quarter. However, Maryville (4-6) grew its lead back to double digits and pulled away in the final frame to win the non-conference meeting between the two USA South Conference foes.

Big second and fourth quarter scoring outputs helped the Scots notch their second win in as many days. Although Averett dominated the glass 46-31, Maryville forced 26 turnovers and turned them into 28 points.

Senior Amani Ajayi led Averett with 15 points, while junior Brooke Carthon totaled 14 points. Junior Ravyn Johnson added a team-best 13 rebounds and chipped in seven points.

A 7-0 run early in the first quarter helped Maryville take an 11-7 advantage. The Scots' lead held until the end of the quarter. Averett freshman Camryn Lunsford was fouled on a last-second heave from near midcourt, and she hit two of three free throws to give the Cougars a 16-15 lead entering the second quarter.

Maryville used an 8-0 run to seize control of the lead in the second quarter. Although Averett tied it at 24-24 on Johnson's free throws, the Scots ended the final 4:57 with a 12-2 spurt. That run was capped by three Klaire Varney free throws after she, too, was fouled on a 3-point attempt as the horn sounded for halftime, which gave Maryville a 36-26 advantage — its largest lead at the time — entering the locker rooms.

Down 49-40 late in the third quarter, Averett trimmed its deficit to only four points with a five-point swing over a one-minute span. Yet Maryville answered with a basket on its final possession to take a 51-45 lead into the fourth quarter.

Varney led Maryville with 31 points.

Averett breaks for the holidays before returning to action at home on Dec. 30 against non-conference foe Randolph College at 2 p.m.