FERRUM, Va. -- Ferrum College used an 11-5 run to close out the game en route to a 74-68 USA South Athletic Conference women's basketball win over Averett University this afternoon at Swartz Gym. Jacole Hairston had a game-high 29 points for the Panthers.

Ferrum led 60-50 at the 10:07 mark of the second half, only to see the Cougars go on a 13-3 run to tie the game at 63-63 on Da'Shanae Hardy's jumper with 4:56 left in regulation. Oneka Jones made a pair of free throws at 2:56 to gave Averett a 68-67 lead, but Lindsay Martin's three-pointer at 2:09 on Ferrum's next possession put the Panthers back out in front 70-68. Hairston hit another jumper and then closed with a pair of free throws for the final count.

Hairston was 9-11 from the floor, including 2-2 from behind the arc, and a perfect 9-9 from the free-throw line. Zarkia Mattox had 12 points and 11 rebounds, and Kemani Crawford chipped in 12 points and eight rebounds for the Panthers. Ferrum won the rebounding battle 43-32.

Averett led 40-36 at halftime. Jessica Myers had 22 points for the Cougars (4-6, 2-2 USA South), while Alexis Sollars had 10 points and Samm Chandler had nine points.

Ferrum (4-5, 2-1 USA South) returns to action Friday and Saturday, Jan. 16-17, with a pair of USA South road games. Coach Bryan Harvey's team will play Saturday at 4:00 p.m. at Huntingdon (Ala.) College, then Sunday at 3:00 p.m. at LaGrange (Ga.) College.