RALEIGH, NC – The William Peace women's basketball team got off to a quick start in their season opener against Lynchburg College Wednesday night, but the Hornets showed why they are the favorites to win the Old Dominion Athletic Conference, bouncing back to down the Pacers, 65-52.
"I told them to be proud of the way they played but to not be satisfied," said Pacer's head coach Kelly Johnson. "Lynchburg played very well and we got down on ourselves just long enough to let them make a spurt, but if we keep that up good things will happen."
WPU (0-1) went 6-10 from beyond the arc in the opening half and jumped out to a 12 point lead at the 8:42 mark following a quick 9-0 flurry, which was ignited by a Krystal Williams three-pointer and capped by consecutive long distance buckets from Brittany Boykin.
The Pacers led virtually the entire first half, but they found themselves down, 33-32, at the break following an 11-0 Lynchburg run keyed by a tactical change defensively. The Hornets came out of the gates playing a 1-3-1 zone, but they disrupted the Pacer's offensive rhythm with a combination of man-to-man and half-court press the rest of the way.
"We shot them out of the zone early on and they mixed it up on us, which we had some issues with," Johnson explained. "Once we started to attack we were able to get some good shots, but they're a veteran group with great length, and you drive the lane thinking you have an opening and can get all the way to the basket, but they can recover so quickly."
Lynchburg (2-1) picked up right where they left off in the second half continuing to frustrate the Pacers with their suffocating defense. WPU only managed five field goals the rest of the way and finished the game going 16-51 (31.4%) from the field, 6-15 (40%) from beyond the arc, and only 14-25 (56%) from the free throw line.
With five players listed 6'0 or above and several others just shy of that mark, the Hornets dominated the rebounding battle, 53-34. They also scored the majority of their baskets down low with 38 points in the paint compared to only 12 for the Pacers.
Williams and Boykin both scored a team high 10 points in the contest. Williams also registered four assists, while Boykin added three more. DeJah Cheathem scored eight points in her collegiate debut. Derrica Jones and Tamara Murphy each scored seven points. Jones also grabed a team best nine rebounds. Ka'la Jordan added five points, five rebounds, two assists and four steals.
Chaney Forbush led the way for Lynchburg with a double-double of 15 points and 15 rebounds. Shannon Allan led all scorers with 16 points in addition to four rebounds, and four assists.
William Peace women's basketball returns to action this weekend as they host the 15th annual Jackie Ammons Memorial Tournament starting with an 8:00 p.m. game on Friday, Nov. 21 against Mid-Atlantic Christian University. Saturday's consolation game will tip-off at 1:00 p.m. with the championship game to follow at 3:00 p.m.
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