FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — The Averett University women's basketball team used an 18-13 fourth quarter run paced by clutch free throw shooting to earn a 58-49 win over Methodist University on the road Saturday afternoon in USA South Conference play.

Averett (11-7, 7-3 USA South) opened Saturday's conference tilt with a 14-9 run to open the first quarter of play as Junior Brooke Carton scored six of her game-high 17 points in the opening frame.

Methodist (3-14, 1-8 USA South) battled back in the second quarter to tie the game at 23 all heading into the halftime intermission.

However, the Cougars came out of the break strong using a 17-12 third quarter run to take a 40-35 lead heading into the final quarter of play. Junior Kiara Smith hit a 3-pointer early in the third quarter to open Averett's run and junior Samantha Tecson and freshman Caitlin Reed added baskets down the stretch.

The Cougars opened a 10-point lead early in the fourth quarter of play aided by a Tecson 3-pointer, however Methodist narrowed the gap to three points with 5:38 remaining at 45-42, before Tecson struck again from behind the 3-point arc to extend the lead to six points.

Baskets by freshman Camryn Lunsford and Tecson pushed the Cougars lead back to 10 points with just over three minutes remaining in regulation and clutch free throws in the final minutes sealed the Cougars victory.

Lunsford finished the afternoon with a career-high nine rebounds, while Carthon, Smith and junior Ravyn Johnson all finished with nine boards for the game. Tecson finished with 11 points, while Reed, Johnson and Lunsford all scored seven.

The Cougars return back to the friendly confines of the Grant Center this coming Tuesday, Jan. 22 for the first of five straight home USA South contests beginning with Salem College at 6 p.m.