Seniors lead NCWC women to 63-50 win over Peace

Rocky Mount, NC - Seniors Liz Ansley, J.D. Richardson, and April Wilson combined for 36 points and 21 rebounds in leading their North Carolina Wesleyan women’s basketball squad to a 63-50 win over Peace College in Wednesday night’s USA South Conference opener at Everett Gymnasium.  All three netted double figures for the Bishops, who are now 4-4 on the season, 1-0 in league play.  The Pacers now stand at 5-5 overall, 0-1 in conference action.

The first half saw eight ties with the Bishops forging the period’s biggest lead, 26-21, as time expired.  Leading 23-21, Wesleyan executed a beautiful screen for sharp-shooting Richardson, who knocked down her third trey of the half from the top of the key. 

Richardson led all scorers with 11 points in the half on 4-of-7 shooting.  Brittany Lynn led the Pacers with five. The Bishops shot 35 percent to PC’s 30 in the period.

In the second half, Peace managed to tie the game at 38-38 on a lay-up by Christy Freeman with 11:34 remaining.  The Bishops, however, answered with a 10-0 run to go ahead 48-38.  

Kim Zullo broke the Pacers’ scoreless drought with a basket in the paint, but Wesleyan countered with three-point basket by freshman Shameika Faircloth for the 51-40 advantage with 6:20 left in regulation.

Peace would get no closer than seven the rest of the way as Wilson netted two baskets down the stretch, followed by Ansley and Richardson going 4-for-4 at the free throw line in the final two minutes of play.

Richardson and Wilson each finished with 13 points and six rebounds, while Ansley added 10 points and nine boards.  Faircloth came off the bench to turn in five points, four blocks, four steals, and two assists.

Freeman was the lone double-figure scorer for Peace with 10.  She also dished out a game-high six assists for the Pacers, who shot 37 percent from the floor as a team. 

NCWC finished at 42 percent accuracy, including a 5-for-10 effort from downtown.

Now winners of two straight, the Bishop women continue USA play on Saturday when they host Shenandoah University.  Tip-off is slated for 2:00 p.m. in Everett Gymnasium.  Saturday will serve as Alumni Day for Wesleyan basketball.