RALEGH, NC – The William Peace women's basketball team picked up a 67-63, senior day win over Meredith on Thursday, which is also the Pacer's 100th victory under the direction of head coach Kelly Johnson.
The Pacers were down by as many as 10 after halftime, but they went 6-of-12 (50%) from the three-point land and 10-12 (83.3%) from the charity stripe in the second half to complete the comeback. The Pacers only shot 23-of-69 (33.3%) from the field, but they went 10-of-21 (48%) to finish things out. WPU also turned the Avenging Angels over 19 times during the contest, which led to 17 points at the opposite end.
"We kept playing, put in our full-court man press where we were able to trap some and get some turnovers, which I thought we did a great job of," Johnson said. "We mixed it up and definitely came back because of our defense, but we got some good shots and we hit our free-throws."
Neither team led by more than four in the first, as Meredith took a one point (26-25) lead into the break.
WPU (8-15, 5-12 USAS) trailed by two (33-31) after a three-pointer from Ka'la Jordan less than four minutes in, but Nicole Miller banked one in from another time zone, capping an 8-0 Angels which gave them a 10 point (41-31) edge at the 13:55 mark.
The Pacers responded with an ensuing 8-0 run of their own though, cutting their deficit back to only two (41-39) with 12 minutes to go. Jordan drained a jumper, Zhana Gooden found Krystal Williams for a triple, and then Williams connected with DeJah Cheatham who buried another big three.
Meredith (11-12, 10-7 USAS) extended their lead back to seven (50-43), but Cheatham hit her third shot from beyond the arc to put WPU back in front, and then Gooden knocked dialed one up from long-distance for a five point (57-52) Pacer's lead, their biggest of the game. WPU went 4-of-4 from the free-throw line down the stretch to salt it away.
Despite it being senior night, sophomore Brittany Boykin carried the load for WPU. Boykin scored a career high 24 points to go along with two rebounds and four assist, while only committing one turnover. Jordan was the other Pacer in double-figures with 10 points, four rebounds and a pair of assists.
Senior Derrica Jones had six points, 11 rebounds, two assists, four steals and a block in her final game under the roof of the Hermann Athletic Center. Williams had four points and four assists in her final game, while senior Kate McHale chipped in with an offense rebound and put back for two points.
"All three of those seniors have done such a great job," Johnson added. "I'm just happy they could get a win on their last home game on this court, because those three have been through a lot."
Danielle Lee led the Angels with 14 points, eight rebounds, two assists and three steals. Three other Meredith players scored in double-figures including Laquetta Hairston (13), Miller (11) and Brittaney Rice (10).
WPU women's basketball closes their season with a pair on the road this weekend. The Pacers square off against Averett on Friday and Greensboro on Sunday.
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