LYNCHBURG, Va. – Averett University women's basketball stayed steady through three quarters at Randolph College on Wednesday night, but a final quarter surge from the WildCats led to a 66-59 defeat in Lynchburg, Virginia.
A slowly brewed first quarter began picking up towards the tail end of the period, as Averett led 12-6 through strong shooting from multiple contributors;
Zariia America led the way with four early points. Randolph did climb back before the clock zeroed out, using a 5-0 run to reduce the Cougars' lead to just one heading into period two.
Both squads continued to battle through the second period, trading baskets, with Averett holding the slight edge. Freshman guard/forward
DaiShaundria Giggetts began to heat up, already up to nine first half points. Randolph would hold serve and keep the pressure on the visitors, keeping the contest within two field goals before the mid-period media timeout.
An
Emma Jones three-pointer kept the offense pushing through to the halftime intermission. Late foul trouble consumed the waning moments of the period, with the WildCats able to sink a pair of foul-line shots, but the Cougars had the lead after two quarters.
Overall, Averett shot a collective 12-25 from the field and crashed the boards to the tune of 16 defensive rebounds, 22 overall. Giggetts led all Cougars with nine points at the break. Jones quietly had a strong half, with six points and rebounds thus far.
Averett kept its foot on the gas, assured with a 10-0 run to begin the third period. Back to back three-pointers from Jones and
Jaa Brown helped the Cougars to break open the game, distancing themselves away from the WildCats with their largest lead of the night, 45-31 with under five minutes left. Randolph stormed back, making a trio of shots from beyond the arc in the midst of a 15-8 run to end the period only down by five. Averett led 51-46 going into the critical final quarter.
The home team would tie the contest up at 51, as Renee Clines continued her hot night, up to 16 points. Clines would score once more to bring the WildCats back into the lead, their first since early in the first period. From that point on, Randolph pulled away and its lead was too much to overcome for the Cougars, falling 66-59.
Giggetts finished the night with a team-high 20 points, five rebounds, and two steals. Jones rounded out the game with 12 points and six rebounds, most amongst the Cougars.
As a team, Averett won the rebound margin 40-35, 29 of those being defensive. The Cougars only missed three free throws, going 10-13 overall.
The Cougars return home for a weekend contest versus visiting Hollins University on Saturday, Dec. 7. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m.
