DANVILLE, Va. — Averett University women's basketball held off Maryville College in the final seconds for a thrilling 68-65 victory in Saturday's USA South Conference Tournament quarterfinals at the Grant Center.

With 1.9 seconds remaining, Maryville (13-14) inbounded the ball and missed a potential tying 3-pointer as time expired, sending Averett (18-8) into a celebration and into next week's USA South semifinals. The Cougars face West No. 2 seed Berea College on Saturday, Feb. 23, at 3 p.m. in Demorest, Georgia.

Averett, the top seed in the East Division, overcame a slow start and a halftime deficit with a big 17-0 run over a five-minute span in the third quarter. The Scots, the No. 4 seed from the West Division, led by 11 points three minutes into the period before the Cougars swung the momentum by hitting big shots and playing good defense. Junior Brooke Carthon tied the game at 47-47 with 3:22 left in the third with a layup, and senior Amani Ajayi drained a 3-pointer to put the Cougars in front. On Maryville's ensuing possession, Averett senior Alixis Roccia got the steal and fastbreak layup while being fouled, and Roccia hit the free throw to make it 53-47 with 1:55 left in the quarter.

Although Maryville pulled within two entering the final quarter, Averett extended its lead to 64-55 with 5:49 to play. However, the Cougars had to withstand Maryville down the stretch after the Scots responded with a 9-0 spurt to tie the game, 64-64, with 2:31 remaining.

Junior Kiara Smith's pair of free throws put Averett back in front by two moments later, and Maryville got within one with a free throw with 1:07 left. The Cougars had an opportunity to extend their lead over the final minute, but only went 2-for-6 from the foul line, leaving the door cracked for Maryville. Junior Ravyn Johnson's free throw with 9.6 seconds remaining made it a three-point game. The Scots missed a shot from beyond the arc in the final seconds and Averett secured the rebound, only to be called for traveling — thus setting up Maryville for one last opportunity with 1.9 seconds to play.

Averett escaped with the win for its first-ever victory over Maryville in 13 meetings, and the win clinched a third consecutive 18-win season for the Cougars, which tied the program's single-season record.

Roccia finished with 17 points and five assists to lead Averett, while Ajayi added 16 points and eight boards. Johnson chipped in a double-double of 13 points and 11 rebounds to go with four steals. Although Maryville focused its defense on stopping Carthon, the USA South All-Conference First Team selection still had nine points and a team-high 14 rebounds. Smith also had nine points for the Cougars.

Averett limited USA South All-Conference First Team selection Klaire Varney to just six points in 19 minutes after getting her into foul trouble in the first quarter. Libby Gardner led the Scots offensively with 19 points.

The Cougars jumped on Maryville early, taking a 9-0 lead before the Scots caught up. Tied 17-17 at the end of the first quarter, Maryville inched ahead by seven points to take a 39-32 advantage into the break.