Monica Ramis buried a 3-pointer with 21 seconds left to give Mary Baldwin the lead and Demet Saygili added the clinching free throws with eight seconds left as the Fighting Squirrels rallied for a 66-63 conference victory Wednesday night over the Averett Cougars.The late-game heroics capped a fourth-quarter rally that saw the Fighting Squirrels wipe out an 18-point defict in the final eight minutes.

MBU entered the fourth quarter, trailing by 14 points, 53-39 Averett scored the first four points of the final quarter to lead by 18 points, 57-39. with 7:42 left to play.

Mary Baldwin then hit the visitors with a 14-2 run to get within striking distance. A three-point play by Jalen Gathers trimmed the margin to single digits, 59-51, and a jumper by A'Cetta Farrait capped the run and pulled MBU to within six, 59-53, with 3:52 to go.

The Squirrels trailed 62-55 with 2:58 left, but Farrait made 1-of-2 at the foul line and Saygili added 1-of-2 from the line to trim the margin to five. Hannah Varner knocked down a baseline jumper and Ramis converted a steal into a layup, pulling MBU to within a single point, 62-61, with 1:02 remaining.

The teams traded turnovers before Averett's Courtney Hunt made 1-of-2 free throws, making the score 63-61 with 31 seconds left. Following a timeout to move the ball into the frontcourt, Saygili found Ramis open on the left wing and the MBU guard buried the 3-pointer to put the Squirrels ahead with 21 seconds left.

Hunt then drove into the paint, but her shot bounced off the rim and Saygili grabbed the rebound and was fouled with eight ticks left. The rebound was Saygili's 13th of the game. After Saygili made both foul shots, MBU defended the 3-point line and the Cougars were unable to get up a shot before the final buzzer.

MBU's reserves played a key role in the victory as the Squirrels bench outscored the Cougars bench 30-15. Mya Coleman came off the bench to lead MBU with 15 points and Ramis added 14 in a reserve role. Gathers also reached double figures with 12 points. 

With their third victory in a row, Mary Baldwin improved to 9-6 overall and 6-4 in conference play. The Squirrels return to action Saturday when they travel to N.C. Wesleyan.