LYNCHBURG, VA — Visiting Averett University had four players score in double figures as the Cougars ran past the Randolph College women's basketball team 69-37 in non-conference play from the Randolph Athletics and Dance (RAD) Center Friday evening in the final contest of the calendar year.

Poor shooting seemed to plague the WildCats (3-6) all evening but especially in the first half, as Randolph missed its first 13 field goals en route to just 15.6 percent shooting in the opening period. Despite the poor shooting, Randolph was only down seven with eight minutes in the first half after a three pointer from Bri Lowry (Herndon, VA/Herndon).

The Cougars (6-3) scored 14 of the game's next 16 points to build a 19-point lead, eventually taking an 18-point edge into halftime with a score of 36-18. Things didn't get much better for the 'Cats after the break, as Averett shot 53.8 percent in the second half to pull away.

Randolph was led by the game-high 15 points from Lowry, who was 6-of-23 on the evening, also grabbing five rebounds in 39 minutes of action. Senior Lauren French (Blairs, VA/Chatham) continued to struggle from the floor, but still managed to score eight points, making three of her 11 field goals. First-year Megan Russell (Pinnacle, NC/West Stokes) had team-highs of seven rebounds and three blocks.

"We hustled a lot but just had too many mental lapses," said first-year guard Dyllan Peterson (Baltirmore, MD/Bryn Mawr). "I think the layoff had a lot to do with the poor shooting and turnovers, it's probably not something that would have happened if we had been practicing through the break." Peterson finished with four points on the night.

Averett was led by the 12 points and eight rebounds from both Kaneshia Slade and Liz Martin. Mette Sceiman posted 11 points and five assists, and Abby Bailey had 10 points in a reserve role for AU. Averett finished 26-of-57 (45.6 percent) from the floor, and won the rebounding battle 57-36. Randolph registered just 21 percent shooting, making 13 of the 62 field goals it attempted.

The WildCats will ring in 2012 Friday evening January 6 at home as the Hornets of Lynchburg College come across town for a 7 p.m. conference tip.

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