Averett steals 67-66 victory from Bishops on Senior Day

Rocky Mount, NC - Averett University erased a 10-point second-half deficit on Saturday to steal a 67-66 come-from-behind victory from the women's basketball team of North Carolina Wesleyan in USA South hoops action.  Prior to the game, the Bishops honored seniors Liz Ansley, J.D. Richardson, and April Wilson (all pictured), who played the final home game of their careers in Everett Gymnasium.

The Bishops, who fell to Ferrum College by an 80-59 score on Friday night, end the 2006-07 regular season with a 4-20 overall record and 1-13 conference mark.

In Saturday's action against AU (5-18, 3-11), the Bishops managed to forge a 32-26 lead over the Cougars at the break thanks to Richardson's 11 points in the period.

Less than three minutes into the second half, Wesleyan extended that lead to double digits at 41-31 when Richardson knocked down her fifth three-pointer of the game.  Averett responded with a game-changing run that saw the Cougars tie the game at 51-51 at the 9:10 mark.

It was a see-saw battle from there, and AU came out on top when Jasmine Adams converted two free throws with 28 seconds left. The Bishops, who had held a 66-65 lead just four seconds earlier, missed 3-of-4 at the charity stripe to set the stage for Adams heroics.  Wilson got off a jumper just as time expired, but it fell short and was rebounded by the Cougars.

Richardson finished with a game-high 17 points, while Wilson chipped in 13.  Lawanda Scott turned in the game's lone double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds, and Ansley dished out a game-high five assists.

Adams led the Cougars with 15 points.  Taylor Poirier and Kristen Kozar added 12 and 10 points, respectively.

On Friday against Ferrum (18-6, 11-2), the Panthers never trailed from start to finish en route to the 21-point margin of victory.  A three-pointer by Richardson pulled the Bishops to within six, 36-30, with 1:43 remaining in the first half, but Ferrum ended the period with a 6-0 run to go up 42-30 at the break.

The second half saw Wesleyan get no closer than nine points as the Panthers slowly pulled away.  Alexandria Davenport led four FC players in double figures with 16 points.  Aline Alzime added 15 points and eight rebounds.

For Wesleyan, Scott was a perfect 7-of-7 from the floor and finished with 16 points and a team-high seven boards.  Richardson added 13 points and three assists.