NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Piedmont 68, Averett 56
Records: Piedmont, 3-2; Averett, 2-2
 
DANVILLE, Va. – The Piedmont College women's basketball team closed out a perfect weekend, pulling away from Averett for a 68-56 victory on Sunday afternoon in the team's final game of the Cougar Tip-Off in Danville.
 
The Lady Lions (3-2) took the lead in the second quarter and held off a few Averett (2-2) rallies, eventually pulling away in the fourth quarter to seal the win.
 
ASHLYN ELLISON scored a career-high 25 points on 9-of-14 from the field and 7-of-10 from the free throw line while freshman forward NAKIYAH WASHINGTON added her second career double-double, scoring 18 points to go with 10 rebounds and four steals.
 
The Piedmont offense was shut down through most of the first quarter, with the Cougars taking a 12-6 advantage late in the period. The Lady Lions did score the final three points of the quarter to cut into their deficit heading into the second.
 
After an Ellison layup tied the score with 5:15 left in the second quarter, PC outscored Averett, 14-4, over the last half of the period. The Lady Lions defense held the Cougars to just 33 percent from the field and forced 15 turnovers in the first 20 minutes.
 
The Lady Lions led by as many as 16 points early in the second half before a furious Averett rally cut the margin to just three points late in the period. However, Piedmont was able to halt the run and took a 49-43 lead into the final 10 minutes.
 
Then, on PC's first possession of the fourth quarter, AMARI PRICE drilled the team's first three-pointer of the contest to put the Lady Lions back up by nine points. Piedmont built a game-high 62-46 lead after a pair of Ellison free throws with 4:39 left. The Cougars were unable to cut their deficit to single digits the rest of the way as the Lady Lions iced the game.
 
TURNING POINT:
- After Averett cut Piedmont's lead to 42-39 late in the third quarter, PC outscored the Cougars, 26-17, over the final 13:08 to pull away and claim the victory.
 
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
- Ellison delivered 14 of her career-best 25 points in the first half. The senior from Gainesville also added eight rebounds and four steals.
- Washington scored at least 15 points for the fourth consecutive game, adding 18
- Although she was held to 11 points, AMARI PRICE added five rebounds, steals and assists in the win.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
- Neither team made a three-pointer in the first half, with PC going 0-for-6 while holding Averett to 0-for-5. Price's three-pointer to begin the fourth quarter was the only three-pointer made by either side.
- The Lady Lions had three players with at least four steals with Price picking up five, while 
Ellison and Washington added four each.
 
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