The Pacers improve to (7-0) in the USA South Conference and extend their winning streak to 8 with a (72-58) win over Mary Baldwin University. Jaymesha Sanders had an outstanding performance as she hit a career milestone with 1000 points. The contest was very even until the Pacers pulled away in the fourth quarter where the Fighting Squirrels had no response.

THE BASICS

• Final score: William Peace University 72, Mary Baldwin University 58
• Records: William Peace University (14-2) (7-0), Mary Baldwin University (9-8) (4-5)
• Location: Raleigh, NC

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Fighting Squirrels of Mary Baldwin started off the quarter strong by going up (7-2) The Pacers responded by tying the game at (10-10) with a jumper from Jaymesha Sanders, followed up by  Mikayla Ray and Cierra Baker both contributing a 3-pointer each. Then, with a layup from Khadijah Daniels and another jumper from Jaymesha Sanders, the Pacers took a (14-10) lead. The Fighting Squirrels responded by tying the game at (14-14). Mikayla Ray would drive to the basket for a layup to put the Pacers up (16-14) to end the first quarter.
• Mary Baldwin and WPU would continue to battle in the second quarter. The Fighting Squirrels tied the game at (16-16), but the Pacers would pull away and gain a (22-16) lead with shots from Eva Holloway and Khadijah Daniels. Mary Baldwin would surge back within 2 to put the score at (22-20). Jaymesha Sanders and Khadijah Daniels both had powerful drives to the basket for a layup each to put the Pacers up (26-20). A jumper from Nautica Smiley would maintain the Pacer lead (28-22). Khadijah Daniels made a great steal and layup to keep the Pacer lead (32-26) to end the half.
• The Fighting Squirrels started off the half by cutting the Pacer lead to 2 (36-34). The Pacers responded with Jaymesha Sanders leading the offensive push by scoring her 1000th career point with a drive to the basket for a layup, also drawing the foul for a one and one. Khadijah Daniels and Mikayla Ray both contributed a pair of foul shots to maintain the lead (45-39). The Fighting Squirrels once again responded by cutting the Pacer lead to just 1 (45-44). Mary Baldwin would overtake the Pacers with a layup to put the Squirrels up by 1 (46-45). A pair of free throws from Khadijah Daniels would put the Pacers up (47-46) to regain the lead. A layup from Sydney Austin would extend that lead to (49-46) to end the third quarter.
• In the fourth and final quarter, Jaymesha Sanders continued to lead the Pacer offense with a jumper to extend the lead (51-46). Mariah Partin put the Pacers up (53-46) with a pair of free throws. Sydney Austin hit a shot from behind the arc to keep the Pacer momentum going and put the Pacers up by 10 (56-46). Jaymesha Sanders hit a shot from behind the arc to give the Pacers a 15 point lead (61-46). Khadijah Daniels hit a 3-pointer to maintain the Pacer lead (64-48). Mikayla Ray made an outstanding block to lead the defensive momentum. No one could stop Jaymesha Sanders as she hit another shot from behind the arc to put the score at (69-56). The Pacers held off the Fighting Squirrels to win (72-58).

PACER TOP PERFORMERS

• Jaymesha Sanders lead the Pacers with 25 points while also contributing 5 rebounds. She tallied her 1000th career point.
• Khadijah Daniels recorded a double-double as she put up 18 points and 12 rebounds.
• Mikayla Ray also recorded a double-double 10 rebounds and 11 points.

FOR THE FOES

• Dement Saygili posted 13 points and 9 rebounds.
• Brooke Anders led the Squirrels with 10 rebounds.

STATS OF THE GAME

• The Pacers shot 41.5% from the field compared to Mary Baldwin's 35.4%.
• The Pacers shot 27.3% from behind the arc compared to the Fighting Squirrels' 25%.

NEXT GAME
The Pacers will host Methodist University on January 22nd. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 PM in the Hermann Athletic Center.
 
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