Danville, Va. / Raleigh, N.C. / Demorest, Ga. - N.C. Wesleyan wrapped up USA South weekend hoops action on Sunday with a 75-62 win at Averett University. The game capped a three-game road set for the Bishop men and women, who previously dropped contests at Piedmont and Meredith on Saturday.
Sunday's game saw the Cougars (10-5, 3-1 USA South) clinging to a 12-11 lead with 2:20 to go in the opening period. The Bishops responded with a 16-3 run that closed out the first quarter and extended midway the second to give them a double-digit advantage and eventual 41-31 lead at the break. Senior Alexis Fitzgerald's back-to-back treys highlighted the run, and though the Cougars would get as close as four late in the third quarter, Wesleyan was able to counter with four straight free throws by the senior to go back up eight.
The Bishops went on to out-score the Cougars 23-19 in the fourth quarter to secure the victory. Fitzgerald finished with a team-high 17 points, with junior KeChae Parker tallying a double-double of 11 points and 15 rebounds. Senior Timyra Staton narrowly missed a double-double of her own with 15 points and nine rebounds, while Daijah Davis netted 12 points and Caila Spruill pulled down 12 boards.
Samm Chandler turned in 17 points for the Cougars, who were dominated on the glass by a 64-41 margin.
Previously on Saturday, the Bishops (7-8, 2-2 USA South) fell at Meredith by a 74-61 score. The Angels (1-10, 1-0 USA South) out-scored Wesleyan 23-12 in the third quarter to turn a 1-point halftime lead into a 12-point advantage entering the final period. The Bishops would get no closer than 11 the rest of the way.
Staton's double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds led the Bishops, while Fitzgerald and Spruill added 12 and 11 points, respectively. Meredith's Jessi Hayes led all scorers with 37 points on 11-of-15 shooting.
On the men's side, the Bishops (7-6, 0-2 USA South) dropped a 95-76 decision at Piedmont College (8-7, 3-2 USA South). The Bishops, who led 11-8 just four minutes into the contest, saw an 11-0 Piedmont run quickly erase the deficit and give the Lions a lead they would not relinquish.
Junior Adrian Moore netted 19 points to go along with five rebounds and four assists, while teammates Cameron Martin and Chris Braswell joined him in double-figures with 13 and 11 points, respectively. Justin Vallejo poured in 20 points to pace the Lions, who won the battle of the boards 42-31 and knocked down 13 three-pointers as a team.
After a Wednesday night home men's contest versus Greensboro College, both teams will prepare for Saturday's Youth Day celebration in Everett Gymnasium. FREE ADMISSION will be offered to all area youth, and door prizes will be available. The event, which is being sponsored by Don Bulluck Chevrolet as part of their 100-year anniversary, will also feature half-court shots for a chance at $500 at halftime of each game.
The men's game versus Ferrum will tip off at 2:00pm, followed by the women taking on Greensboro at 4:00pm. For more information, please contact Charlie Long at clong@ncwc.edu.