DANVILLE, Va. -  Host Averett University led throughout in a 59-48 USA South Conference women's basketball victory over Shenandoah Saturday afternoon.

The Cougars (4-2, 2-0 USA South) scored nine of the game's first 11 points and held a 10-point halftime lead over SU (2-5, 0-2).

The Cougars jumped out to that 29-19 halftime lead as the Hornets shot just 23.1 percent (6 for 26) from the field and missed all four attempts from behind the arc.

Only a 7 for 8 performance from the line, including 5 of 6 by Gabrielle Clarke, kept SU within striking distance.

Junior Nicole Gilbertson opened the second half with a layup for Shenandoah, but the visitors were unable to make any headway as AU matched the Hornets output over the next 10 minutes.

The Hornets most significant run came in the final five minutes when senior Mandy Johnston capped off a 7-0 run with a 3-pointer at the 3:20 mark.

Unfortunately for SU, Averett would hold Shenandoah scoreless for the remainder of the contest and the Cougars coasted home to the 11-point victory.

Senior Kerby Hatter had a team-high 12 for Shenandoah with Johnston adding nine and Clarke seven.

Averett, which dominated on the glass 51-35, saw Liz Martin score a game-high 15 points.

SU is off for the next nine days and returns to action on December 12 with a non-league game against Frostburg State.

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