DANVILLE, Va. — The Averett University women's basketball team won their fifth game in a row by beating N.C. Wesleyan College, 61-54.
 
The first quarter was an up and down game that saw 14 points come out of the fast break with the Battling Bishops having the 8-6 edge in that category. Neither side could stretch their lead to larger than five points and at the end of the quarter the score was all tied at 19.
 
With 8:08 left in the second quarter, Kayla Johnson drained a 3-pointer to give N.C. Wesleyan (10-13, 8-6 USA South) the 25-23 lead over Averett (15-7, 11-3 USA South). However, the Cougars would respond in a defiant fashion going on a 14-0 run to end the half up 37-25. During that run, senior Alixis Roccia and junior Kiara Smith led the charge with five points each. This run proved to be crucial as the Cougars would not relinquish this lead the rest of the game.
 
During the third quarter, the Cougars kept N.C. Wesleyan at bay not allowing the Battling Bishops to cut the Averett lead to single digits. Averett shared the ball well on offense throughout the night and that showed in the third frame as the Cougars had five different scorers fill up the stat sheet. The Cougars owned a 48-38 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
 
The Battling Bishops would eventually trim the Averett lead to 49-42 with 7:59 left in the game. Over the next 2:42, though, Averett would go on a 7-0 run to extend their lead back to 14. Carthon capped the run with an old fashioned 3-point play off an assist from junior Zenise Chambers.
 
Daijah Davis hit a jumper with 15 seconds left to bring N.C. Wesleyan to within seven of Averett at 61-54, but it was too little too late as the Cougars held on for the victory.
 
Junior Brooke Carthon led all Averett scorers with 16 points while hauling in 10 rebounds. The Atlanta, Georgia, native moved into the program's all-time top ten list in points as she now sits in ninth with 975.
 
Senior Amani Ajayi also finished with a double-double as the guard recorded 11 points and 14 rebounds. Junior Ravyn Johnson was just one point shy of a double-double as the Lanham, Maryland, native had 9 points and 16 rebounds.
 
Averett celebrates Senior Day on Saturday as the Cougars host Pfeiffer University at 4 p.m.