MISENHEIMER, N.C. — The Averett University women's basketball team took a first quarter lead and didn't look back as it beat Pfeiffer University, 78-70, for the USA South conference win on the road on Monday.

Averett (10-6, 6-2 USA South) never trailed Pfeiffer (6-5, 3-4 USA South) as it led for 39 minutes after a basket from junior Brooke Carthon in the first minute of the game. As they have done all season, the Cougars were active on the boards, out-rebounding the Falcons 51-38, including 19 offensive rebounds.

Averett was hot from the beginning, opening the game on an 8-0 run and ending the first quarter with a commanding 22-8 lead. The Cougars kept this momentum going into the second quarter initially before the Falcons got a hot streak of their own going to start cutting into Averett's lead. Heading into halftime, Averett held on to maintain the lead up 38-32 at the break.

The Cougars bounced back in the third quarter, quickly going on a 7-0 run to open up a 13-point lead early on and concluding the third with a 60-49 lead with one quarter left to play. From there, Pfeiffer cut Averett's lead to seven points with 6:49 left in the game before buckets from Carthon and senior Amani Ajayi helped the Cougars put the Falcons away late and earn the conference win.

Carthon led the team with 25 points on 10-20 shooting with eight rebounds, including a team-high six off the offensive glass. Ajayi was next, tallying her third double-double of the season with 17 points and 11 rebounds while also leading the team with four steals. Junior Ravyn Johnson also logged a double-double, her fourth of the year, with 11 points, 11 rebounds and a team-high three blocks. Senior Alixis Roccia joined them in double figures with 11 points, five rebounds and three assists.

Averett will be back in action on Wednesday when it travels to William Peace University with tip off scheduled for 7:30 p.m.