Greensboro College Pride Women’s Basketball Suffers First Conference Loss Against Bishops

Pride Women Suffer First Conference Loss Against Bishops
Courtesy of Wes Gullett, Greensboro College SID

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Despite having four players score in double figures, the Greensboro College women’s basketball team suffered their first home loss of the season Saturday to the Battling Bishops of North Carolina Wesleyan College, 89-86.

Over the first four minutes of the opening period, the Bishops quickly raced out to a 11-2 lead before Greensboro came storming back with a 12-3 run over the next 3:05 to tie the game at 14.

Brianna Best sparked the Pride run with a second-chance basket before Ashley Free, Katie Lewis, A’Liyah Woods and Nichelle Jeffries combined for 10 points.

Following the Greensboro run, the Bishops were able to retake a three-point lead on their next possession before going into the second period with a 19-16 lead.

The two teams then traded buckets over the first seven minutes of the period before Lauren Whitley connect from the left wing to give Greensboro just their second lead of the contest at 31-28 with 3:17 showing on the clock.

However, the Bishops continued their hot shooting as the clock began to run down and they were able to go into the break on top 40-37 after the Pride failed to get a shot off to end the half.

Despite the shaky ending to the second period, Greensboro outscored Wesleyan 22-9 over the first 6:10 of the third to take a 10-point lead at 59-49.

During the spurt, the Pride went 7-of-11 from the field as Best led the charge with six points and three offensive rebounds. Lewis, Jeffries, Woods, and Free combined for 16 point.

Once Greensboro established the double-digit lead, the Bishops began to battle back and pulled to within four with 18 seconds on the clock before Woods hit a pair of free throws to give the Pride a 67-61 lead heading into the final 10 minutes.

In the fourth, Greensboro struggled on the offensive end of the floor that allowed the Bishops to take an 89-86 lead with eight seconds remaining on the clock.

The Pride then got one final shot off but Lewis’ desperation three-point attempt rimmed out and the Bishops were able to escape for the victory.

“The problem we are having right now is that we will work hard to get back into the game, and even build a lead, but we then take a step back towards the way we started,” Head Coach Randy Tuggle said. “Tonight was not a pretty game and we did not play as hard as we normally do and that is just disappointing.

“We have several things that we need to work on and we will do that heading into our game with Mary Baldwin on Wednesday.”

Lewis finished the game with a team-leading 23 points, while Woods and Best finished with 17 points apiece. Free finished with 15 points. In addition to her 17 points, Woods led Greensboro with 10 rebounds to record her second double double of the season.

The Pride women will return to action Wednesday when they travel to Mary Baldwin University for a 6 p.m. tip.

For more information on Greensboro College women’s basketball, continue to follow www.greensborocollegesports.com.