Third Period Surge Helps Propel Greensboro College Pride Women’s Basketball Over Pacers

Third Period Surge Helps Propel Pride Women Over Pacers
Courtesy of Wes Gullett, Greensboro College SID

GREENSBORO, N.C.– The Greensboro College women’s basketball team claimed their third straight conference win after taking down the Pacers of William Peace University Tuesday, 61-46.

The two teams struggled on the offensive side of the ball over the first period, but William Peace went into the second period holding on to a 9-6 lead.

Nichelle Jeffries started up the second quarter with an 8-4 run with a two-point jumper.

By the end of the run, Greensboro established a 14-13 lead with 5:50 showing on the clock. Ashley Free, Katie Lewis and Brianna Best scored two points apiece following Jeffries’ jumper.

Following the Pride run, the Pacers outscored Greensboro 9-7 and took a 22-21 lead going into the half.

Both teams battled back and forth for the lead at the start of the third quarter.

It wasn’t until the sixth minute that the Pride began to pull away from the Pacers.

Williams and Lewis both recorded a three-point basket and Lauren Jenkins and Best scored two points apiece to help Greensboro extend their lead over William Peace to 42-36.

By the end of the half, the Pride was grasping onto a 42-39 lead.

With a conference win on the line, Greensboro began to play with more aggression and the offense fired up a 12-2 run.

A’Liyah Woods and Lewis recorded back-to-back three-point baskets for the Pride and Best, Free and Joseph dropped two points each to establish an 11-point lead over the Pacers.

William Peace battled to cut the deficit, but Greensboro’s defense recorded seven steals over the final quarter and helped the Pride secure the 15-point conference victory.

“I thought it was a very good game for us,” Head Coach Randy Tuggle said. “We played harder on defense over offense which is unusual for us, in my opinion.

“We played hard throughout the game, without a doubt, and it was a very special win tonight.”

Lewis recorded a game-high 17 points and four steals, while Brianna Best tacked on 13 points for the Pride. Best also recorded 13 rebounds, while Joseph brought down a team-high 14 rebounds.

The Pride will return to Hanes Gymnasium Saturday for a 1 p.m. tip-off against Mid-Atlantic Christian University. For more information on Greensboro College women’s basketball, continue to follow www.greensborocollegesports.com.