DANVILLE, Va. - The Virginia Wesleyan University women's basketball team defeated the Cougars of Averett University 53-52 on Wednesday evening in Danville, VA. The Marlins were led by
Adaje Williams with 16 points and 13 rebounds for her second consecutive double-double.
INSIDE THE SCORE
Score: Virginia Wesleyan 53 - Averett 52
Records: Virginia Wesleyan 6-11, 2-8 | Averett 3-14, 1-9
Location: Danville, VA
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Marlins got on the board first to begin the game but the Cougars answered with six points to take a 6-2 lead as the clock ticked under five minutes. A pair of baskets and a free throw gave Virginia Wesleyan a 7-6 lead with a minute and a half remaining in the opening quarter. Averett scored four points in the final 90 seconds to take a 10-7 lead into the second quarter.
VWU started the second quarter on a 13-0 run taking a ten-point 20-10, lead by the five-minute mark. Aiding in the Marlins run was
Lenah Clements with five points on a jumper and three-pointer, as well as
Logan Carter,
Jada Norman, and
Meadow Dyke with a basket each. Averett scored back-to-back baskets to halt the Virginia Wesleyan run.
Adaje Williams added one more score for the Marlins while the Cougars also added a basket heading into the halftime break with VWU leading by six points, 22-16.
The Cougars opened the third quarter with a basket but the Marlins scored six consecutive points reclaiming a 10-point lead, 28-18, with just over six minutes to play. Virginia Wesleyan went on an 8-3 run to take a 15-point lead, 36-21, after Norman connected on a three-pointer with 2:30 on the clock. A jumper by
Meadow Dyke gave VWU a 17-point lead, 38-21, but a three by AU cut the lead to 14-points heading into the final 10 minutes of play.
The Marlins held on to a double-digit lead through the opening four minutes, 42-31 (6:11), but as the clock ticked under six minutes to play the Cougars started to chip away at the VWU lead. A 9-2 run by Averett pulled the Cougars within four, 44-40 (4:13). A three-pointer by Averett evened the score at 47 all with 1:37 remaining on the clock and the Cougars took the lead 49-47 following a pair of free throws with 53 seconds to play. VWU's
Adaje Williams knotted the score at 49 all after converting both free throws with 38 seconds on the clock. A layup by
Sarah Ellis put VWU ahead 51-49 (:17) but the Cougars took a one-point lead 52-51 following a three-pointer with five seconds to play. Williams went to the line again for another pair of free throws and successfully made both giving VWU a 53-52 lead with three seconds. The Marlins defense held the Cougars preventing the hosts from scoring a final basket and claiming the win.
KEY STATS
The Marlins were led by
Adaje Williams with 16 points and 13 rebounds for her second consecutive double-double.
Sarah Ellis collected 12 rebounds while adding seven points for the Marlins.
Jada Norman was the second-leading VWU scorer with 11 points.
Meadow Dyke scored eight points while
Lenah Clements joined Ellis with seven points.
The win is the first for the Marlins since December 15, when VWU beat MACU 69-49, and snaps a four-game losing skid. VWU is now in a position to move into 10th in the ODAC standings if the Marlins can defeat the Panthers on Saturday.
UP NEXT
The Virginia Wesleyan University women's basketball team returns to action on January 21, when they hit the road to take on the Panthers of Ferrum College in Ferrum, VA. The tipoff time is set for 2 PM.
