Score: Roanoke 69, Averett 44
Records: Maroons 18-7, 12-6 ODAC; Cougars 4-21, 2-16 ODAC
Location: Danville, Va.

The Short Story: The Roanoke women's basketball team secured the No. 6 seed in the upcoming ODAC Tournament with a 69-44 win over Averett on Saturday afternoon in Danville. Madison Nereu recorded her third double-double of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds. 

HOW IT HAPPENED/HIGHLIGHTS

• The Maroons doubled up the host Cougars in the first quarter, outscoring the home team 16-8 over the first 10 minutes. Roanoke scored eight points in the first 5:00 minutes with Averett scoring four. Both teams scored an identical amount in an identical amount of time before the end of the period. 
• The second quarter was much more even despite the Maroons outscoring Averett. Morgan Carter led Roanoke in the period with six points while Madison Nereu grabbed five rebounds in the period. 
• It was back to business as usual for Roanoke in the third quarter as the Maroons more than doubled up the Cougars' point total in the period. Nereu and Morgan Micallef each scored five as part of an 18-point quarter for Roanoke. 
• Averett could not find an answer for the Maroons in the fourth quarter either as Roanoke led by as many as 27 points on multiple occasions in the final 10 minutes. The Maroons outscored the Cougars by two in the period and held on for the 25-point win, 69-44.
• Roanoke made as many free throws as the Cougars attempted (13). The Maroons' bench came got rowdy in the game, outscoring the hosts 61-20 with Micallef leading the way with 13 points.
• Nereu has now recorded three double-doubles this season. Her last one came in an identical team-scoring game on Saturday, February 11 when the Maroons defeated Virginia Wesleyan 69-44.

UP NEXT

• With the No. 6 seed secured, Roanoke advances to the quarterfinal round of the 2023 ODAC Tournament and will face off against No. 3 Bridgewater on Thursday, February 23 at 8 p.m. All quarterfinal round and beyond games will take place at the Salem Civic Center. Game time with BC is scheduled for 8 p.m.
• The Maroons and Eagles split their regular season meetings, each winning on their home floors.