RALEIGH -- The William Peace University women's basketball team defeated Meredith College, 75-66, on Tuesday night. The Pacers improve to 13-3 overall and 6-1 in the USA South.

William Peace and Meredith battled it out for the first five minutes of the game, but the Pacers closed the first quarter on a 13-0 run to deflate the Avenging Angels heading into the second quarter. The Pacers continued to pressure the Angels into turnovers and poor shots, which led to the Pacers getting quick buckets on the other end. The Pacers closed the first half with a comfortable lead at 42-22.

The Avenging Angles began to mount a comeback in the third quarter bringing the Pacers lead down to eight before the beginning of the fourth quarter.

Meredith wouldn't stop in the fourth quarter and brought the Pacers lead down to six several times, but the Pacers always responded with a Susannah Sykes three or a Makayla Ray layup. Tyler Mercer made five crucial free throws in the final minutes of the game to secure the Pacers 13th win of the year.

Sykes led the team with 20 points while Nadine Ealey and Tyler Mercer each added 16. Makayla Ray earned another double-double with 10 boards and 10 points.

THE BIG PICTURE
The Pacers continue their dominance of the USA South with a 6-1 record. The Pacers sit second in the East behind Ferrum who's undefeated in the conference.

HOME COURT ADVANTAGE
The Pacers are 8-1 at home with the teams only loss coming to Huntingdon College in the championship game of the Jackie Ammons Memorial Tournament in November.

SIX THREES FOR SYKES
Susannah Sykes drilled six threes in the game to tie her career-high. Sykes was 6 of 8 from beyond the arc and added two free throws for her 20 point total.

UP NEXT
The Pacers will travel to face Mid-Atlantic Christian University on Thursday at 6 p.m. The Pacers beat the Mustangs, 89-55, in the Hermann Athletic Center earlier this year.