WINCHESTER, Va. – Averett University women's basketball finished up its long trip away from Danville, facing off against Shenandoah University in a mid-week conference contest. The Hornets broke away early from the Cougars, ending as winners by the 101-47 margin on Wednesday afternoon.
After Shenandoah shot out to a 10-0 lead in the opening few series, Averett made the game slow down, and crafted its way to only being down by six, 15-9. The Hornets did not relent, however, forcing the Cougars to just a pair of made field goals in the last five-plus minutes, while making four of their own.
Having built a 28-10 lead,
Zariia America assured that the last bucket of the first period would be hers, knocking in a buzzer-beating three-pointer off the glass to end the quarter, in Shenandoah's favor, 28-13. The above-stated America was already up to six points, leading the team heading into the next quarter.
The third-ranked offensive team in the ODAC, Shenandoah's momentum continued, but ran into a three-ball battle with visiting Averett, trading back and forth. America and
DaiShaundria Giggetts were on par with the sharpshooting Hornets, but the home team capitalized more, including on key turnovers. Averett was as close within 20 at 42-22, but Shenandoah thwarted Averett in its offensive zone, and proceeded to cruise through the remainder of the period.
The Hornets steadied a 60-26 lead heading into the locker rooms at halftime intermission. America, almost matching her first quarter output, was up to 11 points, leading the team. The contest featured a parade of threes, with both squads combined to hit 12-23 from beyond the arc.
Shenandoah's offense won the day, with its first half flow enough to command the contest through the majority of the fourth quarter, but Averett stamped some positive momentum towards games' end. Only being outscored 14-13 in the final period, the Hornets were stymied in some fashion, but ended up victorious 101-47.
For the fourth straight contest, Giggetts led the Cougars in scoring with 15 points, and in steals with four. America went back-to-back games in double figures, with 12 points.
Brianna Sams made noise in the paint, corralling a team-high seven rebounds.
As a team, Averett made its most threes this season, with eight. Both teams tied in the offensive rebounding margin with 12 apiece.
For the first time since Dec. 16, the Cougars return home to the friendly confines of the Grant Center, hosting Bridgewater College, receiving votes in the latest D3hoops.com poll. Tipoff on Saturday, Jan. 11 is set for 2 p.m.
