Wesleyan suffers hoops sweep to end regular season

Ferrum, VA - In USA South women's basketball action, the Bishops of North Carolina Wesleyan suffered a weekend sweep at the hands of Averett and Ferrum by 61-43 and 78-68 scores, respectively. With the two losses, Wesleyan finishes the regular season with a 7-17 overall record and 4-14 conference mark.  The Bishops, however, did qualify for next week's conference tournament by securing one of the 10-team league's top eight slots.

On Friday at Averett, the Cougars (10-15, 8-10) opened the contest with an 8-0 run that covered nearly the first four minutes of the game. Wesleyan answered immediately, and even took the lead with 11:05 left in the first when Essence Chambers hit a lay-up to break the first tie of the game. Averett snatched the lead back with back-to-back lay-ups by Gretchen Sheperty and Kristyn Wharton, forging a 27-22 lead at the break.

In the second half, the Bishops tried to mount a comeback, eventually coming as close as four points near the 10 minute mark. After that point, however, Averett expanded its lead to as much as 20 points and went on to cruise to the victory.

Sheperty led the Cougars with 15 points and achieved the double-double with 11 rebounds. Chambers paced the Bishops with 15 of her own.

Saturday's game at Ferrum saw the Panthers forge a 42-31 halftime lead. The advantage proved to be too much for the Bishops, who actually out-scored FC by one point in the second half.

Chambers netted 25 points and dished out seven assists, while Shawnte Dickens came of the bench to score 14.  Ali Davenport tallied a game-high 26 points for the Panthers (16-9, 14-4).

Wesleyan finishes the regular season as the USA South’s #8 seed in next week’s conference tournament.  The Bishops, therefore, will travel back to top-seeded Greensboro on Tuesday night for a 7:00 p.m. contest with the Pride.