Peace outlasts NCWC 68-59 to secure season split with Bishops

Raleigh, NC - Peace College nearly blew a 16-point second half lead on Monday night, but the Pacers held on to secure a 68-59 home victory over visiting North Carolina Wesleyan, earning a crucial season split with the Bishops in USA South women's basketball action. The Pacers, who led from the tip, move to 6-9 overall and now stand at 4-6 in conference play. Wesleyan falls to 4-7 on the season, 2-2 in league action.

Peace held Wesleyan to just 23 percent from the field in the first half and limited NCWC leading scorer Essence Chambers to just one point in the period.  Their defensive effort was coupled with a 49 percent shooting performance to give the Pacers a comfortable 36-23 lead at the break.

In the second half, Peace forged its biggest lead of the contest at 52-36 with 12:25 remaining.  It was then, however, that Chambers took matters into her own hands. The senior guard proceeded to score 16 of her game-high 23 points to pull the Bishops to within five at 62-57 with 38 ticks left in regulation.

Forced to foul, Wesleyan watched as the Pacers knocked down 6-of-6 attempts at the free throw line down the stretch, while a jumper by Gretchen Tobias with 18 seconds left proved to be the final offensive production for the Bishops.

Tobias finished with a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds, while freshman Meredith Mills also turned in 10 points for Wesleyan. Christy Freeman paced Peace with 22 points, and Brenna Mickey chipped in 12 points and nine boards off the bench.

The Bishops will be in action again on Wednesday when NCWC travels to Christopher Newport for a 5:30 p.m. match-up with the Captains.