Danville, VA - Mary Baldwin College was on the road Saturday afternoon to face Averett University in a USA South Conference matchup.  

The Fighting Squirrels struck first with a layup by Sabrina Desper off a pass from Kelsey Still to take the lead 2-0 and keep the lead until 11:56 when Abby Bailey scored on a layup to tie the game 9-9.  In the final eleven minutes of the half, Averett (10-6, 6-3) went on a 20-9 run that proved to be the difference in the game.  The Cougars took a 29-18 lead into the locker room.

In the second half, Mary Baldwin (4-9, 2-7) chipped away at that lead.  At 7:47, Shanice Miles made two free throws to pull the Fighting Squirrels to within six, but that was as close as Averett allowed them to get.  With 3:32 remaining in the game, the Cougars had built their lead back to 16.  The home team then held on to take the win 63-52.  

Averett got help this afternoon from their bench as they outscored Mary Baldwin's bench 26-12.  MBC also struggled to hold onto the ball committing 38 turnovers in the game.

Shanice Miles led Mary Baldwin this afternoon with 19 points.  She was followed by Sabrina Desper with 13 and Tiffany Flesher with 10.  Flesher also led the team in rebounds with 7.

The Fighting Squirrels will be back home Tuesday evening when they face Christopher Newport University.  Tip-off is a 7:00PM.