Raleigh, N.C. - The N.C. Wesleyan women's basketball team opened USA South play on Friday night at William Peace University. The Bishops got a season-high 14 points from junior Alexis Fitzgerald en route to a 65-62 road victory over the Pacers.
The Bishops held a slim 26-25 lead at the half after holding the Pacers to just eight points in the second quarter. Wesleyan never trailed in the second half, forging a double-digit lead near the end of the third period and taking an eight-point advantage into the fourth.
Wesleyan opened the final ten minutes with an 11-6 run that gave NCWC its biggest lead of the night, 58-45, with 5:05 to go. After a Pacer basket cut it to 11, freshman Cherelle Turrentine's lay-up at the 3:55 mark put NCWC back on top by 13 points, 60-47.
Up 62-53 with less than a minute left, Cherelle and sister Cheria Turrentine combined for a trio of free throws down the stretch and helped their teammates withstand a late Pacer rally to secure the victory.
Fitzgerald scored 11 of her points in the second half, and she was joined in double-figures by Turrentine (Cherelle) and freshman Jermaiyah Baker with 10 points apiece. Junior Kenyata Harris grabbed a team-high 11 rebounds and narrowly missed a double-double with nine points.
Hannah Erickson paced WPU with 14 points and 11 boards.
Now 3-2 on the season, Wesleyan travels to Longwood University next Saturday. Tip-off is slated for 2:00pm.