RALEIGH, N.C. — The Averett University women's basketball team earned a nail-biting 57-54 victory over Meredith College in USA South Conference action, by fending off a late Avenging Angels rally on Wednesday evening.

Averett (8-5, 2-2 USA South) benefited from a strong first quarter, opening up a 17-6 lead and playing Meredith even throughout the second quarter to take a 26-15 edge into halftime. However, Meredith (5-10, 1-5 USA South) turned the tide in the second half, winning the third quarter 16-14 to cut into the Cougars lead and opened the fourth quarter on a run that saw the deficit cut to seven points. 

The Cougars, however, increased their lead back to double-digits with an early fourth quarter run of their own, but that lead was short lived as Meredith capitalized late to pull within three points of Averett, but were unable to net the game-tying basket with just seconds left.

Senior Ravyn Johnson paced the Cougars with a team-high 17 points, also adding six rebounds, while freshman Courtney Scott netted 13 points, five rebounds and three assists. 

Sophomore Genesis Weiters picked up where she left off against Mid-Atlantic Christian University as the post tallied eight points and a team-high 10 rebounds. Senior Brooke Carthon matched Weiters' team-high 10 rebounds with 10 boards of her own, adding seven points. 

Additionally, sophomore Camryn Lunsford finished with seven points, eight rebounds and a career-high seven assists, while senior Kiara Smith finished with five key points off the bench, hitting a 3-pointer during the Cougars' early fourth quarter run.

Averett will look to make it three in a row on Sunday when it hosts East Division leader William Peace University at 2 p.m.