College Women’s Basketball Final – Guilford 75, William Peace 48

RALEIGH, N.C. – Guilford College’s Lauren Ramsey (Lexington, N.C./North Davidson) and Anais Weatherly (Winston-Salem, N.C./Mount Tabor) led with 16 points a piece as the Quakers cruised to a Tuesday night victory over William Peace university, 75-48.

After a 5-3 advantage for the Pacers (4-2) early in the opening period, the Quakers (5-1) stepped on the gas pedal, speeding to a 20-0 run that lasted 6:49 of the first quarter. Lauren Ramsey reached double-figure scoring in the opening stanza with ten points while totaling five assists. Anais Weatherly joined Ramsey with ten points while pulling down five rebounds in the quarter. Guilford reached its largest lead of the first half, 23 points, with 4:52 left in the second period. William Peace mustered a 10-4 run to chip away at the lead up until the final seconds when the Quakers padded their lead to 19 points entering the locker room.

The Quakers topped their largest lead at the 8:08 mark in the third quarter with Ramsey’s first bucket since the first quarter barrage to extend the lead to 24. Guilford grew the lead as large as 30 to close out the quarter even as the Quakers’ field goal percentage briefly dipped slightly below 40 percent during the period. With most of Guilford’s bench playing almost the entire fourth quarter, the Quakers’ largest lead hit 31 points four times during the period as Guilford paced to victory.

Dominance on the offensive glass powered the offense as Guilford pulled down 26 offensive rebounds that converted into 29 second-chance points. The Quakers won the rebounding battle, 49-35. Guilford also held the advantage inside offensively, earning the advantage in points in the paint, 32-12. The Quakers cashed 18 William Peace turnovers into 23 points while the Pacers could only produce 11 points off 15 Guilford turnovers.

Guilford shot 39.5 percent for the contest, but shot 50 percent for the first quarter and 47.4 percent in the third period. William Peace shot 35.3 percent, shooting 41.2 percent in the second quarter.

Ramsey finished with five rebounds and six assists to complement her 16-point effort on seven-of-13 shooting. Weatherly pulled down nine rebounds and dished three assists in her 16-point effort on seven-of-12 shooting. Jordyn Brown came off the bench to post a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds. Heaven Walters (Yadkinville, N.C./Starmount) was the remaining Quaker in double figures with 11 points while corralling five rebounds.

Alexis Armstrong was the lone Pacer in double figures, totaling 12 points on five-of-eight shooting. Tenae McKeznie added seven points and six assists.

The Quakers begin Old Dominion Athletic Conference play Saturday, traveling to Bridgewater College for a 3 p.m. contest.