ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. - The NC Wesleyan College women's basketball team dropped their first place battle with visiting William Peace University at home on Saturday evening falling 77-71 in a tightly contested game.

Wesleyan played good defense to start off the game and led 18-12 after the first quarter. Peace would then find their offense and win the 2nd frame 23-19 to trail by just two, 37-35, at the break.

The Bishop women would then open up an 8-point lead at 47-39 to start the third quarter. Unfortunately, Peace would rally going on a 17-8 run to end the third and take a slim 56-55 lead into the fourth.

Wesleyan, however, could not relinquish the lead from the Pacers as Peace would stretch their advantage to 10 at one point in the fourth before NCWC rallied to get within two at 70-68 with 2:14 to go. But that would be as close as the Bishops could get as WPU closed out the win improving to 16-2 overall and 9-0 in the USA South.

Wesleyan drops to 14-5 on the year and 9-2 in the conference. Junior guard Cydney Nichols led the Bishops with a season-high of 22 points on the day on 8 of 17 shooting with three 3-point field goals.

Fellow junior guard Kayla Johnson was also in double-figure scoring posting 18 points with 6 rebounds and 2 steals while freshman forward Kayrisma Harrison added 8 points and a team-best 11 rebounds with a steal and a block.

Junior guard Keorra Taylor also led the team in assists with six while adding 5 points and a steal. Freshman guard Nyesha Best recorded 6 points as well with 3 assists while junior forward Kneciya Tripp added 9 rebounds with 4 points and 2 steals.

The women return to action next weekend when they stay home to host Pfeiffer on Saturday and Salem College on Sunday. Each game is scheduled for 2 PM.