DANVILLE, Va. – Averett University women's basketball cleared its first conference hurdle on Wednesday night, downing Roanoke College 74-63 for the Cougars' first ODAC win of 2025-26.
Averett jumped out early while simultaneously, Roanoke was held behind with a string of empty possessions through the first period. Near the change of stanzas,
Jy'Lyia Mizell sunk both free throws in a flawless quarter, and the Maroons split a pair, as the Cougars led 11-6.
Roanoke's star guard Nadia Snesarev led the visitors on a 9-2 run in the early stages of the second period, capped off by a three-ball that gave the Maroons its first lead of the contest at 15-13. Averett then paid its respects back with a 10-2 dash of its own, as the home side meshed together points in the paint and successful trips to the charity stripe to regain the lead at 23-17.
Sneserev backpacked the Maroons back within one with five points, but the Cougars ended the half on the better side. Capped off by more paint points and flawless free-throw shooting, Averett went into the locker rooms up 29-24.
As close as could be in an exciting third quarter, the two ODAC schools went bucket-for-bucket, as the Maroons barely edged Averett 11-8, but trailed by two, 37-35. After that, the Cougars dropped four quick points to go up by six, and remained that way until Moriah Tate and Sneserev brought Roanoke's deficit back down to one, 43-42.
A
Zariia America three was the only field goal that Averett made for the rest of the quarter, with Alicia Farmer and Sneserev again digging the visitors back from the brink, and tied the game at 46-all.
The fourth began with two straight makes from
Kyjana Jordan and
DaiShaundria Giggetts to build back a quick four-point lead, and then
Zariia America rose up with a personal five-point unanswered session. Jordan capped off the onslaught with a deep ball, culminating in the home team's largest lead of the night at 58-48.
With under seven minutes to play, the Maroons replied right back with a 6-0 run to nearly eviscerate Averett's lead down to four, but that was as close as Roanoke would come to sniffing a potential comeback. The Cougars held down home court, capped off by a barrage of free throws to seal Averett's first ODAC win of the season.
Winning 73-64, this marks the first time in over nine years that the Cougars have defeated the Maroons, dating back to November 2016.
Giggetts soared with 18 points, eight rebounds and three steals, all team-highs. Mizell made it into double figures with a 10-point outing, along with three rebounds. Averett had its second best outing from the free throw line this season, knocking down 16-20 foul shots, and also out-rebounded Roanoke 40-35.
The Cougars take to Harrisonburg, Virginia for its next ODAC game this Saturday, Jan. 17, facing the Eastern Mennonite University Royals. Opening tipoff is set for 4:30 p.m.
