DANVILLE, Va. – Averett women's basketball played tough basketball versus visiting Randolph-Macon, but the visitors eeked out just enough of an advantage in each quarter to dispose the Cougars 66-54 on Saturday evening.
Randolph-Macon and the might of
DaiShaundria Giggetts scored six apiece to begin the ODAC bout, before the Yellow Jackets ripped off an 11-4 run. With Liz Wyrick's six points in that stretch, Randolph-Macon led 17-10 at the first period break.
Giggetts was one of one in the beginning of the next quarter as well, scoring Averett's six of its opening eight points that pulled the home side within one, 19-18. Randolph-Macon then proceeded to go red-hot from the three-point line, with three in the next four minutes. The Yellow Jackets had its largest lead of the night, 32-22, but the Cougars weren't out yet.
Two quick layups from Averett diminished Randolph-Macon's lead to only six at the half, 32-26.
Zariia America and her three-ball in the third period nearly flipped the game upside down, as the Cougars crept even closer at 34-30. However, it ended up being a balanced period from Randolph-Macon; despite only taking nine field goal attempts the Yellow Jackets converted five of them, and made five from the line to edge out Averett 13-8 over the last six minutes and change before the fourth.
The quarter opened with a Giggetts layup to cut the lead down to seven at 47-40, but Randolph-Macon refused to be denied. Six made field goals in fourth minutes, with five each from Riley White and Erin Porter, extended the visitors' lead to 14, and looked to be enough for their win with a 61-47 advantage.
The Cougars ended the game positively, with the Yellow Jackets held to just a made field goal in the final two minutes, but it was a deficit too far to overcome, as they fell 66-54.
Giggetts had a stellar performance, scoring 18 points with six rebounds, four steals and a block. America reached double figures with 11 points of her own.
Jy'Lyia Mizell had three assists.
Averett hits the road for an ODAC contest against Roanoke College next on Wednesday, Feb. 11. Start time is set for 7 p.m.
