Box Score
FERRUM, Va. — Averett survived a four-minute offensive drought late in the second half and held off Ferrum College in the final minutes to escape with a 68-65 victory on Wednesday night. It marked the first time Averett had defeated the Panthers twice in a season since 1999-2000.
Averett (9-5, 6-3 USA South) turned what was a tied game minutes into the second half into a 55-41 lead with 7:46 to play. Yet, the game was far from over. Ferrum (10-5, 6-4 USA South) held the Cougars scoreless over the next four minutes and cut the deficit to 55-54 with 3:44 remaining.
Averett sophomore
Liz Martin finally ended the Cougars' dry spell seconds later. Senior
Kristyn Wharton pushed the Averett lead back to five with 2:22 to play. The Cougars used the cushion to fend off the Panthers down the stretch. After freshman
Mette Scheiman's free throws gave the Cougars a 68-62 lead with 18 seconds remaining, Ferrum cut the margin in half with Ashley Norton's 3-pointer with 8.2 seconds to play. The Panthers, however, couldn't foul the Cougars before the clock ran out, giving Averett the regular-season sweep of the series.
Averett pulled off a 63-62 victory over Ferrum in Danville on Jan. 6. That victory gave the Cougars' their first win over the Panthers since Feb. 1, 2006. Wednesday's completion of the series sweep marked the first time Averett had beaten Ferrum twice in one season since 1999-2000, when the two schools played three times during the regular season. Averett won 77-70 in a non-conference game on Nov. 11, 1999, in the school's season-opener. The Cougars then defeated Ferrum 80-69 on Jan. 12, 2000. The Panthers took the final meeting that season 78-72.
Averett's starting five helped key the latest Cougars' victory over the Panthers. Martin and sophomore
Kaneshia Slade each finished with a team-high 14 points, while junior
Ashley Washington added 13 points and Scheiman scored 12 points. Wharton chipped in with eight points. Freshman
Emily Barr accounted for the Cougars' other seven points.
The Cougars jumped out to an 18-8 lead midway through the first half, but Ferrum managed to chip away at that advantage and only trailed 27-26 at halftime.
Kristen Keith led Ferrum with 18 points and 16 rebounds. Norton scored 17 points, Tesla Akers finished with 15 points and Brittany Bullock added 13 points and nine rebounds.
Averett will look to ride the momentum into the weekend when the Cougars travel to N.C. Wesleyan College on Saturday for a 2 p.m. start.