Hollins at Averett | Friday, January 23, 2026 | Danville, Va.
 
The Basics 
Score: Hollins 76, Averett 67 (OT)
Records: Hollins 13-4 / 5-3 ODAC | Cougars 6-10 / 2-6 ODAC

The Lead: The Hollins basketball team faced Averett in an Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) matchup with the two teams experiencing a short turnaround after both played on Wednesday night. The Game, originally scheduled for Saturday evening, was moved up a day in effort to beat the impending winter storm expected to hit southwest Virginia over the weekend. Offense was on full display as the two teams combined to score 41 points in the first quarter of play. Hollins would seize control midway through the second frame, building a 14-point advantage. However, the Cougars scored the final six to make it a 37-29 game at the break. HU led by as many as 13 in the third quarter before the Cougars began to rally. Averett came all the way back and tied the game at 52-52 with 5:00 left in regulation. The visitors were up three in the closing seconds before a 3-point shot found the bottom of the net and the game went to overtime. In the extra frame, Hollins took control early, scoring the first six points on their way to a 76-67 ODAC win. This was the third overtime win in conference play this season for the Green and Gold. With the win, the Hollins basketball team secured their first winning regular season record since the NCAA started sponsoring women's basketball as a Championship sport in 1981.

Highlights 

• Hollins opened play with a 6-0 run that was answered by Averett and the game would be tied at 10-10. The Cougars led by as many as four before a hoop by Sarah Morales and three-pointer by Missy Hazard gave HU the edge. Three ties and six lead changes in the opening 10 minutes would see Hollins with a 21-20 advantage after Erin Allen scored to end the quarter.
• Jacorra Russell, Gracie Huffard, and Noelani Carter scored consecutively to push the lead to seven. Russell scored four of her 12 first half points to increase the lead into double digits. Leading 37-23, Hollins would not be able to hold the double-digit lead as Averett scored the final six points of the half to make it 37-29 after the first 20 minutes.
• Allen and Russell combined for a 6-0 run to start the second half and get the lead back into double figures. The final five minutes belonged to the Cougars as they cut the HU advantage to 48-42 heading into the final quarter of play.
• Russell and Morales answered the first two Averett runs of the fourth stanza. However, with 4:58 to play, the game was tied at 52-52. Allen scored on a three-point play and followed it up with a layup to keep Hollins in front. In the final minute, Russell scored to put Hollins in front by three. The closing seconds set the stage for a Cougar make from long range to tie the game (62-62) and send it into overtime.
• Huffard and Russell each scored in the opening minute and after a pair of Carter free throws, Hollins was back in control. Two more Carter free throws and a pair from Huffard matched the biggest lead of the second half for Hollins as they held on for the 76-67, overtime, win.
• Russell went 11-19 from the field on her way to a career high 23 points. The first year added seven rebounds, three assists, and five steals. Carter posted a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds while going 6-8 from the charity stripe. Morales finished with 11 points and seven rebounds while Allen made in four in double digits with 10. Huffard registered eight points, eight rebounds, four assists, and three more blocked shots, giving her 38 blocks on the season.

Up Next: The Green and Gold are scheduled to host Guilford College on Wednesday night. The game with the Quakers is slated to tip at 7:00pm.