RALEIGH, N.C. – Averett University women's basketball rolled into Christmas break on a three-game heater, downing Meredith College 65-47 on Thursday night.
Compared to its two previous contests, Averett (3-6) dogged Meredith (1-6) to just five made field goals in the first half. In the first quarter alone, the Avenging Angels scored six points, due to relentless defense from the visitors.
The Cougars forced 17 turnovers, while shooting at a 50-percent clip (14-28) through two quarters. Eight different Averett players recorded points.
DaiShaundria Giggetts, off the bench, rode the team's momentum with nine points to lead all scorers in the first half.
Meredith had Averett's number in the third quarter, forcing the Cougars to just six made shots. The likes of Mary Church and Molly Zuburg helped the Avenging Angels settle back into the contest, trailing Averett 17-14. Senior guard
Brianna Sams paced the visitors with nine points, distancing the Cougars further away with an 18-point lead, 53-35.
The Cougars'
Madison Schramm hit her first three-pointer in the navy and gold in the early stages of the fourth, but Meredith rolled back slightly with an 8-3 run to cut its deficit to just 13. Luckily, the Averett defense walloped the Avenging Angels, making only one more field goal in the last three minutes and change, while Averett scored nine more to pull away for the 18-point win.
The three-game win streak matches Averett's best in nearly five years, when the Cougars won three consecutive contests from Feb. 2 to Feb. 8 in 2020.
Giggetts reached the 20-point mark, leading all scorers. The sophomore guard also had six rebounds, two assists and a steal.
Brianna Sams reached the double-digit threshold as well, scoring 12 points while shooting 5-of-6 from the field.
Crishya Sellers and
Kyjana Jordan each accumulated four steals, and three different Cougars recorded a block.
Averett returns to basketball action after Christmas, playing Division-I North Carolina Central University in an exhibition on Tuesday, Dec. 30. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m.
