STAUNTON, Va. — The Averett University basketball team broke its program record with its seventh consecutive overall win as the Cougars sailed past Mary Baldwin University with a 86-55 conference win on Thursday evening.
 
Averett (15-7, 11-2 USA South) overcame a first-quarter deficit with a strong second quarter. The Cougars opened the frame with a 10-0 run to take control while outscoring Mary Baldwin (1-20, 0-13 USA South) 20-9 in the period. Averett led 35-28 at halftime.
 
The Cougars began to run away with the game after halftime, gaining their largest lead of 32 points with 5:40 left in regulation.
 
Three Averett players finished the night with a double-double. Senior Samm Chandler led with 16 points and 15 rebounds and sophomore Brooke Carthon followed with 15 points and a career-high 15 boards. Junior Amani Ajayi completed the game with 13 points and 10 rebounds while junior Alixis Roccia added 13 points.
 
Two nights after grabbing a season-high 78 rebounds in a 78-38 win over Mary Baldwin, the Cougars finished with 65 boards as they outrebounded to the Fighting Squirrels by 34.
 
The Cougars have won 22 in a row against Mary Baldwin.
 
Averett tied its record of six consecutive overall wins in Tuesday's victory, matching the mark set by the 2009-10 team.
 
Averett returns to action on Saturday when the Cougars host rival Greensboro College in a first-place showdown in the Grant Center at 2 p.m.