Hollins at Averett | Wednesday, January 10, 2024 | Danville, Va.
 
The Basics 
Score: Hollins 63, Averett 53
Records: Hollins 6-8 / 2-7 ODAC | Cougars 4-13 / 2-7 ODAC

The Lead: After opening 2024 with a pair of home games, the Hollins basketball team was on the road on Wednesday night in Danville to face Averett University. The winner of the game would move into the top 10 in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference and be in position for a berth in the conference tournament at season's end. The first half would see the home team take a slim, two-point, lead into the break. The Green and Gold led by two heading into the fourth quarter and used a 9-0 run to put the game away, 63-53.

Highlights 

• Missy Hazard hit a three-pointer to give Hollins a 9-6 edge in the game's opening minutes. A 7-0 run by the Cougars would see Averett in front until Moriah Hill scored from long range to tie the game at 15 apiece. The Cougars got the final hoop of the opening quarter for a 2-point edge.
• A layup by Noelani Carter tied the game at 19-19 before the home team seized control and built a six-point cushion with just 2:00 left before the half. Carter hit a driving layup and Erin Allen closed the half with her fourth point of the night to make it 27-25 at the midway point.
• Averett pushed their advantage to five but a 3-pointer by Sarah Morales and another Allen bucket put HU back in front. Allen tied the score at 35-35 before Hollins made a run to take a three-point lead but the Cougars responded. Carter hit a free throw in the final seconds and after three periods, Hollins led 42-40.
• The fourth started with a Morales three to give Hollins their largest lead of the night, 45-40, and spark a 9-0 run to start the final 10-minutes of play. After Averett stopped the run, Cabria Mutz scored to push the advantage back into double-digits. In the final two-minutes, Carter hit a free throw to give HU a 12-point lead, their largest, on their way to a 63-53 ODAC win.
• The game would feature six ties and eight lead changes before Hollins finally seized control in the fourth quarter.
• Carter led the way with 14 points, eight rebounds, and three steals. Morales and Allen added 10 with Destiny Hoover matching Hazard with nine points. Mutz, the ODAC's 2^nd leading shot blocker added three more to her season total.

Up Next: Hollins returns home to face Bridgewater College on Saturday afternoon with a 2:00 start time.