Rocky Mount, N.C. - Freshmen NeTaih Davis and Derreon Cole combined for 35 points, 13 rebounds and six steals to help lead their Battling Bishop women's basketball squad to a 76-62 victory over USA South foe Averett University on Sunday in Everett Gymnasium. Davis tallied 11 points in the first half to help NCWC forge a 43-33 lead at the break, while Cole scored 11 in the second half to help Wesleyan secure its 10th win of the season.
The Bishops raced out to a 21-5 lead in the first eight minutes of the contest thanks to a solid defensive effort that led to several Cougar miscues. Wesleyan, in fact, scored 22 points off of turnovers in the period and held a 10-2 advantage on the fast break.
In the second half, the Cougars (10-11, 6-8 USA South) got as close as six, 59-53, with just under eight minutes remaining. The Bishops, however, answered with a 13-2 run that saw Cole dominate offensively with nine points during the span.
Davis turned in her first collegiate double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds, while Cole finished with 16. Sophomore point guard Kourtney Salisbury also had a solid game with nine points, three assists and a pair of steals.
Previously on Saturday, Greensboro (16-3, 11-2 USA South) turned a 9-point halftime lead into a 21-point victory as the Pride pulled away for a 91-70 win over NCWC. The Bishops led early, 15-11, and trailed just 35-26 at the break, but a 23-7 run by the Pride with less that 10 minutes remaining was too much for the Bishops to overcome.
Sophomore Tiffany Bell netted a team-high 17 points, while Cole chipped in 13 off the bench. Junior Samantha Urquhart added 11 points and nine boards.
Wesleyan (10-9, 7-7 USA South) continues conference play on Wednesday when the Bishops travel to Mary Baldwin for a 7:00pm tip-off.