NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Facing its first ranked contest of the month, Averett University women's basketball were bested 97-53 by No. 9 Christopher Newport University on Wednesday night, 97-53.
Averett (0-2) kept it close with Christopher Newport (3-0) early, until the Cougars began to encounter foul trouble as the first quarter went on. The last five minutes of action in the period featured a litany of free throws from both sides, as the Captains would hold a 23-13 lead heading into second quarter action. Despite being down by 10, Averett held Christopher Newport to just seven made shots in the period, with none made from beyond the arc.
The visitors kept it neck-and-neck, remaining within the 10-point deficit margin, with scorers
Ny'Kerasia Coleman and three-point specialist
Emma Jones heating up a few minutes into the second quarter. The ranked Captains then controlled the last seven and a half minutes of the half, utilizing a 23-8 run to take a 53-26 lead at the half.
The second quarter surge from Christopher Newport proved dividends, as its scoring momentum separated them from the Cougars in the second half. Averett did hang around in the fourth quarter, however, only trailing the Captains 15-14, but the earlier stages helped Christopher Newport take a 97-53 decider.
Off the bench, freshman
Emily Kusnic led Averett with 12 points to go along with four rebounds and three steals.
Zariia America was the other Cougar in double-digit scoring figures, with 10. The sophomore also tallied a team-high eight rebounds, two blocks and a takeaway.
Ny'Kerasia Coleman tallied five steals, the most for the Cougars.
Averett logged five three-pointers for the second straight contest, outscoring the Captains in that category by one.
The Cougars next head to the N.C. Wesleyan/Jean Edge Classic this weekend, with their first invitational bout against No. 6 Johns Hopkins University in a neutral site contest. Tip-off on Saturday, Nov. 16 is set for 2 p.m.
