DANVILLE, Va. – The Grant Center was treated to Averett University women's basketball's most entertaining contest of the young season, as Hollins University visited for a conference matchup. All four quarters were as closely contested as possible, but the visitors would be victorious by the end, 66-61 by games' end.
Averett (1-7, 0-3 ODAC) started out fast, sprinting out to a 10-3 lead in the early goings against visiting Hollins. Playing relentless defense, the Cougars forced four turnovers in just the first three-plus minutes of action. Hollins (6-1, 2-1 ODAC) would begin to settle in, keeping the contest with a field goal's difference. A
Jaa Brown driving layup concluded the period on a high note, with the home side up 14-12 with three periods left to play.
The Cougars turned cold during the second period, unable to get offense going on the improving Hollins defense. The visiting side would use said defensive momentum to generate points, to the tune of an 8-2 run, and snatching its first lead of the game, 18-16, just under the seven-minute mark.
Both squads stood pat for the next few minutes of play, until Averett broke the short deadlock with a
Brianna Sams jumper to knot the game at 18 apiece. Things would remain neck and neck, but the Cougars slightly outpaced Hollins 7-6 for the rest of the quarter, as the score went in favor of Hollins by one, 24-23 at the half.
Off the bench,
Carmen Moore paced all Averett players with five points.
The third period was nail-biting as could be for both teams, featuring 19 lead changes in the 10 minutes alone. Averett held as large of a lead as four early on, 28-24, but Hollins battled back valiantly. The Cougars tied the game at 32 with under four minutes left in the quarter, and neither team refused to back down in the ensuing plays.
Sams' five points were crucial to the home team's efforts, including a three-pointer.
Ny'Kerasia Coleman, fouled late in the period, sunk both foul shots to put Averett ahead once more, but a last-second layup from opponent Erin Allen brought both teams into the final period in a free-for-all, knotted at 42.
The home crowd was treated to an enthralling final period, starting off with back-to-back threes from both teams. Hollins proceeded to storm ahead by three, 52-49, but a clutch
Emma Jones shot tied the game once again. The Cougars then used a 10-2 run to swing ahead by five, including clutch shots from freshmen
DaiShaundria Giggetts and
Zariia America. Hollins then countered back with its own run to go back up, 60-59, under the two-minute mark.
Coleman would change the tides again for the Cougars, but Hollins had the last gasp, scoring the game's last six points, and dealing Averett the close loss.
Sams and America tied all Cougars for the most points with 12 each. The latter grabbed seven rebounds, tied with Coleman for most on the team. Giggetts marked yet another game with double-digit points, with 10. Coleman distributed the ball well, with a game-high and career-high five assists.
As a team, the Cougars made a season-high seven three-pointers, and led in the rebound margin 53-50. Averett also had its season-high in assists, with 14.
The Cougars return to basketball action next Saturday, Dec. 14, traveling to the University of Mary Washington for a non-conference outing. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m.
