STAUNTON, Va. - The NC Wesleyan College women's basketball team rallied back from a 4th quarter deficit to defeat Mary Baldwin University (Va.) on the road 68-65 on Saturday afternoon in their regular season finale.

The Bishops, the #2 seed in the East Division of the USA South at 14-2, will now receive a first round bye in the conference tournament that starts next week and will return home next Saturday to host the winner of the Maryville-Covenant game at a time TBA.

https://usasouth.net/sports/wbkb/2019-20/releases/20200207ie1s4k

MBU (12-12, 7-9 USA South) got off to a good start leading the Bishops 23-17 after the first quarter shooting 47 percent, but the Bishops would then step up their defense in the 2nd quarter holding the Squirrels to just 8 points while outscoring them 18-8 en route to leading 35-31 at the break.

The third quarter stayed about even with Wesleyan taking a 51-48 lead into the fourth. MBU went on an 8-0 run to begin the fourth quarter to go up by 5 at 56-51 before the Bishops would go on a game-clinching 15-4 run going up 66-60 with 90 seconds to play and hang on for the win.

Junior guard Kayla Johnson led the Bishops with 20 points on 8-of-15 shooting, her 8th 20-point game, while adding 3 assists and 2 steals. Forwards Myrayna Watkins and Kayrisma Harrison also picked up their 5th double-doubles as well in the win. Watkins scored 10 points with 11 rebounds for her double-double while Harrison had 12 points and 10 rebounds with 2 blocks and a steal for her 5th double-double of the season.

Junior guard Cydney Nichols also scored 8 points with 3 assists and 4 rebounds while senior guard Leah Wright scored 6 points with an assist as well.

Wesleyan improves to 19-5 on the season tying the 1999 team in wins, as they went 19-10. 

Come back out next Saturday to watch the Bishops in the quarterfinals of the conference tournament.