DANVILLE, Va. – The Guilford women's basketball team continued their hot-start as they extended their winning streak to six games, defeating Averett University 99-68, at the Grant Center. This marks the Quakers' best start to a season since 2019 and their first Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) win of the year.
The Quakers were led by
Zoe Bayer (Les Sables d'Olonne, France), who dropped a season-high 27 point performance, shooting .526/.375/.800, (10-19/3-8/4-5), while adding three steals on the defensive end.
Courtney McMillan (Lexington, N.C.) dominated the paint, recording her second double-double of the season, with 22 points and 10 rebounds, alongside a block and a steal. McMillan had a great day in the field shooting 7-13 and 8-12 from the charity stripe.
Julianna Walter (Taylorsville, N.C.) chipped in 18 points, hitting 4-5 from beyond the arc and added five rebounds.
Jael Hall (Charlotte, N.C.) contributed 13 points off the bench, while
Skyler Furr (Warrenton, V.a.) grabbed seven boards to anchor Guilford's rebounding efforts.
The Quakers exploded out the gate with their highest-scoring quarter of the season, notching 36 points on an incredible 14-18 from the field. Bayer and McMillan combined for 25 points in the period, setting the tone for the game. Walter drained two early three-pointers to keep the Cougars' defense off-balance. Defensively, the Quakers were unstoppable, forcing eight turnovers. Bayer capitalized on these errors with fast-break layups, while McMillan added a block to shut-down the Cougars' inside efforts. GC's dominance was clear as they raced to a 36-21 lead by the end of the quarter.
The second quarter saw a slight dip in Guilford's offensive efficiency, as they shot 33.3% from the field. However, the Quakers' defense more than made up for it, limiting Averett to just 12 points in the quarter. McMillan continued to assert herself inside, grabbing many rebounds and converting in the paint, while Walter hit a key three to extend the Quakers' lead. AU struggled to find an answer to Guilford's defensive intensity, with turnovers and missed opportunities preventing the Cougars from closing the gap. By halftime, the Quakers built a commanding 56-33 lead, with their defensive effort holding the Cougars to 6-18 from the field and 1-6 from beyond the arc.
Averett came out of halftime determined to cut into Guilford's lead, with DaiShaundra Giggetts leading the charge. Giggetts scored several baskets inside and converted free throws, finishing with 25 points. Despite the Cougars' energy, Guilford's balanced attack and relentless defense held strong.
Walter drained another three-pointer midway through the period, with McMillan continuing her steady scoring with a plethora of layups. Hall provided a spark off the bench with a pair of layups as the Quakers maintained their composure under pressure, outscoring Averett 24-18 in the quarter.
The Quakers closed the game with poise, allowing their bench to shine in the final minutes. Hall contributed eight points in the quarter, with Furr securing key rebounds and
Anaida Datilus (Chantilly, France) adding a fast-break layup to secure a 99-68 victory.
The Quakers aim to continue their impressive season as they return to Ragan-Brown Field House to host Ferrum College in an ODAC showdown December 4. Tip-off is slated for 7 PM.
#GoQuakes
