DANVILLE, Va. - Jessi Hayes led the Meredith College women's basketball team with 24 points in Sunday's 73-59 loss to Averett University to close out the regular season.

The Avenging Angels jumped out to their largest lead of eight points at 16:13. Gabi Jessup picked up a steal during the next series but could not finish the play to keep the run going.

Averett responded with back-to-back jumpers before Jessup netted a three-pointer for Meredith.

The Cougars scored 11 unanswered points during the next three minutes to retake the lead with 9:04 remaining in the half.

The teams exchanged baskets during the next seven minutes when Brittaney Rice hit a pair of free throws to tie the game at 32s with 36 ticks left before the intermission. Danielle Lee forced a Cougar turnover in the backcourt and finished the play on the break to edge Meredith out front.

Averett picked up a bucket in the final seconds to tie the game once more heading into the locker room.

The Cougars scored quickly in the second period to slip into the lead, but Hayes and Laquetta Hairston countered with back-to-back threes to put the Angels back in front.

During the next 6:20, Averett's four double-digit scorers put together a 16-6 Cougar run to take control of the game.

Hayes scored another pair of three-pointers for Meredith, but lacked the offensive support from her team down the stretch.

Rice and Kim Hinton contributed seven points apiece, and Hairston and Lee each tallied three assists.

Averett's Frida Lundquist led the Cougars with 17 points, and Alexis Sollars grabbed eight rebounds in the win.

Meredith travels to USA South Women's Basketball Tournament host Maryville College to face off with the South's second-seeded LaGrange in Thursday's 1 p.m. quartfinal pairing.

USA South Women's Basketball Tournament website