DANVILLE, Va. – Averett University women's basketball nearly pulled a Houdini on Friday night, coming all the way back in the fourth quarter to force overtime, but lost 76-67 to visiting Hollins at the Grant Center.
Fans were treated to a first period that went neck-and-neck, basket for basket, on every possession. The largest lead belonged to Averett (6-10, 2-6 ODAC), a four-pointer that was quickly erased in favor of Hollins (13-4, 5-3 ODAC). Erin Allen's layup in the closing seconds gave the visitors the lead back, 21-20, but led by
Kyjana Jordan's eight points with two three-balls, the Cougars were right in it.
Hollins' 16-3 run in the ensuing quarter raised its lead to 14 (37-23), with eight points from Jacora Russell. Averett quickly erased the turnovers of minutes' past, or
Jy'Lyia Mizell did all on her own. An exclusive 6-0 run from the shifty freshman guard gave the home side a lifeline heading into halftime, as the Cougars trailed 37-29.
Jordan and Mizell were much to credit for Averett only trailing by eight, scoring 11 and 10 points in the half, respectively.
The two teams were even through the third, but Averett did bring the game closer to a six-point deficit (38-42), but the meat of tonight's action came down to a razor-thin fourth period.
Defined by crucial fouls and ice-cold mentalities from the charity stripe, Averett's squad hit eight straight to the tune of a 10-4 run to tie the game at 52-all. Hollins then jumped back in front with a converted three-point play, before the free-throw game commenced once more.
Five more free throws, four more than the visitors, nursed the Cougars as they jumped back in front after
Mariah Eberhardt's two makes to make the score 57-56. With the lead held for the first time since late in the first quarter, all seemed in shape until Sarah Morales swung Hollins into the lead again with a pair of jumpers.
Again, Eberhardt showed her cool from the line with two more makes to put Averett behind 60-59, before Jacorra Russell's layup effectively ended the Cougars' late surge. Down to likely its last possession, the shot clock ran almost to its limit, until
Lily Strittmatter's long heave magically tied the game at 62 apiece, which sent the Grant Center crowd into shock.
Hollins and Averett then split possessions with no scoring result, and the contest needed a fifth period to definitively end the thriller. However, it was the visitors whose might prevailed, with help from three four-point scorers in the overtime period. Averett's valiant effort was just short of the finish line, losing by nine.
Jordan's hot scoring streak continued into tonight, as she led the Cougars with 16 points. Three others finished with 10 or more points, which included the likes of
Jy'Lyia Mizell with 13,
Brianna Sams with 12, and
Zariia America with 10.
Crishya Sellers boarded the paint up with six rebounds, three of which were offensive. Nationally recognized in bench points, Averett racked up a whopping 43 from the reserves.
The Cougars finish off their three-game home stand on Wednesday, Jan. 28, hosting Virginia Wesleyan University at 7:30 p.m.
