NCWC Women Dominate MBU, Fall at Ferrum in League Action

Kayla Johnson
Kayla Johnson

Staunton, Va. / Ferrum, Va. - Freshman Kayla Johnson poured in a career-high 21 points on Saturday to lead her N.C. Wesleyan women's basketball team to a dominating 94-31 win at Mary Baldwin University in USA South play. Unfortunately, the Bishops had their 4-game winning streak snapped on Sunday in an 83-65 loss at division-leading Ferrum College.

Saturday's game at MBU saw Baldwin net five of the game's first seven points for a quick 5-2 edge. MBU's lead was shortlived, however, as Wesleyan out-scored its opponents 27-5 over the final seven minutes of the first quarter to open up a comfortable 19-point lead heading to the second. It was all Bishops from there as NCWC held Baldwin to just 20 percent accuracy on the day. 

Johnson's 21 lead all scorers, and she was joined in double-figures by a trio of additional Bishops. Junior Weslie Young narrowly missed a double-double with 11 points and eight rebounds, while junior Daijah Davis and freshman Javana Jones chipped in 10 points apiece.

On Sunday at Ferrum, it was a pair of runs at the beginning of second and third quarters that proved to be the difference in the game. Trailing just 21-16 after the first quarter, the game began to get away from the Bishops after the Panthers netted the first nine points of the second period to go up 14. Wesleyan managed to stop the damage and entered the half down 15 points, 43-28. 

Needing a run of their own to get back in it, NCWC again fell victim to a sluggish start to the third quarter, allowing FC to open up the half with a 13-4 run that essentially put the game out of reach. Sophomore Caila Spruill paced the Bishops with 15 points, while Ferrum's Zarkia Mattox led all players with 33 points.

Wesleyan now stands at 11-12 overall, 8-6 in conference play. The Bishops return home on Wednesday night to host league rival Methodist University at 7:30pm in Everett Gym. Head Coach Artina Trader will be honoring her lone senior prior to tip-off.