DANVILLE, Va. — The Averett University women’s basketball team led by as many as seven points early in the game, but failed to upset Christopher Newport University Sunday in the Grant Center. The Captains defeated the Cougars by a 61-56 final.

The Cougars (2-11, 1-5 USA South) led 26-21 with 2:36 remaining in the opening half, but allowed a 6-0 CNU (10-6, 5-2 USA South) run to end the stanza. The Captains took a 27-26 lead to the intermission.

Averett led by three at 30-27 early in the second half, however, a 16-2 CNU run followed and the Captains earned some breathing room with a 43-32 advantage. Lakisha Jones scored a lay up with 3:07 showing on the game clock to cut the deficit to 55-52, but Averett couldn’t get any closer.

CeCe Carter paced the Cougars with 14 points and eight rebounds. Jones added 12 and nine rebounds, while Jessica Hefner contributed with eight points.

Candace Bryant led all scorers with 23 points for CNU. She also grabbed 15 rebounds. Amber Hallman also netted a double-double for the Captains with 13 points and 12 boards.

The Cougars return to action on Wednesday when they travel to Raleigh to face Meredith College.

Christopher Newport vs Averett
1-25-04 2:00 p.m. at Danville, VA (Grant Center)
At Danville, VA (Grant Center)
CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT 61, AVERETT 56
CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT (10-6, 5-2)
BRYANT, Candace 10-16 3-6 23; HALLMAN, Amber 4-10 5-5 13; HUTT, Jess 2-8 0-0
6; MORRIS, Chazzy 3-5 0-1 6; LOFTON, Tomorrow 3-11 0-0 6; REESE, Jenna 2-7
0-0 4; DAVIS, Sam 1-6 1-4 3; JEFFERSON, Deitra 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 25-65 9-16
61.
AVERETT (2-11, 1-5)
CARTER, CeCe 5-12 4-4 14; JONES, Lakisha 5-14 2-3 12; HEFNER, Jessica 3-10
2-2 8; DELOATCH, Tiffany 2-8 1-2 6; ADAMS, Jasmine 2-5 2-6 6; BOWMAN, Laura
1-5 2-2 4; JONES, LaToya 1-4 0-0 3; SHEETS, Dawn 1-4 0-0 2; REILEY, Meaghan
0-2 1-2 1. Totals 20-64 14-21 56.
Christopher Newport...........   27   34  -   61
Averett.......................   26   30  -   56
3-point goals-Christopher Newport 2-9 (HUTT, Jess 2-4; HALLMAN, Amber 0-2;
LOFTON, Tomorrow 0-1; REESE, Jenna 0-2), Averett 2-11 (DELOATCH, Tiffany
1-1; JONES, LaToya 1-1; HEFNER, Jessica 0-1; BOWMAN, Laura 0-2; SHEETS, Dawn
0-3; REILEY, Meaghan 0-1; JONES, Lakisha 0-2). Fouled out--Christopher
Newport-None, Averett-None. Rebounds-Christopher Newport 52 (BRYANT, Candace
15), Averett 39 (JONES, Lakisha 9). Assists-Christopher Newport 15 (HUTT,
Jess 4), Averett 9 (DELOATCH, Tiffany 3). Total fouls-Christopher Newport
15, Averett 15. A-66