DANVILLE, Va. – The Shenandoah University women's basketball team earned its third USA South Conference sweep of the 2006-07 season Sunday afternoon with a 56-55 win over Averett University.

The victory also gives SU (14-8, 7-5 USA South) a split of the weekend road trip. The Hornets, who had previously swept both NC Wesleyan and Peace colleges, had dropped their Saturday game at conference co-leader Ferrum College.

Sunday's game was close as Shenandoah fumbled away an 11-point second half lead to Averett (3-17, 2-10).

Leading 45-34 with just under 10 minutes to play, SU saw its hosts score 15 of the game's next 18 points to take a 49-48 lead with 5:12 remaining. From this point on, the two teams were never separated by more than three points the rest of the way.

Shenandoah answered that Kristen Kozar bucket to give the hosts the lead with a Stephanie Harrold layup off of a Valerie Samples'assist, but Kozar scored on the Lady Cougars next possession to give AU what proved to be its final lead of the contest.

Harrold canned two free throws at the 4:11 mark, and SU never trailed again.

The advantage reached three when Katherine Flint hit a runner in the lane with 1:17 remaining, and Averett was only able to score a stickback as time expired. They had two potentially game-tying three-point attempts go long in the final 60 seconds.

Senior Alicia Sanders led all scorers with 19 points with Alexis Hargboladding 10 with eight rebounds. Kozar had 17 points for the hosts.

Box Score 

Shenandoah hosts its penultimate home game Friday at 5:30 against USA South Conference co-leader Greensboro College.