Rocky Mount, N.C. - The Battling Bishop women's basketball team opened up its USA South Conference schedule on Wednesday night, earning a 79-65 victory over Peace College in Everett Gymnasium. Sophomore Tiffany Bell turned in a solid all-around performance with 19 points, eight rebounds, six assists and three steals, while junior Leann Breeden poured in 17 points off the bench thanks to five bombs from downtown.
Up 24-14 at the 8:16 mark in the first half, the Bishops went on a 12-6 run that featured a trio of Breeden three-pointers to go up 16 at 36-20 with just over five minutes left in the period. Wesleyan would eventually take a 44-33 lead into the break.
The second half saw NCWC lead by as many as 19 on a Bell trey at the 11:04 mark, but Peace would rally to pull as close as eight, 70-62, with 3:47 left in regulation. The Bishops responded by going 7-for-8 at the free throw line in the final two minutes, which also saw freshman Derreon Cole knock down a key jumper in the paint. The Pacers managed just three points of their own during the stretch, leading to the 79-65 final.
Joining Bell and Breeden in double figures was Cole with 15 in her first collegiate action. As a team, NCWC shot 36 percent from the floor and 40 percent from behind the arc, while forcing the Pacers into 27 turnovers on the night.
Wesleyan is now 3-2 on the season, 1-0 in league play, and will travel to Meredith College on Saturday for a 2:00pm match-up with the Angels.