Mary Baldwin women's basketball fell on the road to William Peace, 66–43, Saturday afternoon.
The Fighting Squirrels got off to a solid start, trading baskets early and finishing the first quarter tied at 16. Freshman guard
Lanie Bethel provided an early spark, scoring eight points in the opening frame while knocking down a pair of three-pointers.
Momentum shifted in the second quarter as Mary Baldwin's offense went cold. The Fighting Squirrels managed just four points in the period, while William Peace went on a decisive 18–4 run. The Pacers capitalized on turnovers and second-chance opportunities, taking a 34–20 lead into halftime.
In the third quarter, Mary Baldwin looked to regain rhythm offensively. Senior
DaVyne Johnson knocked down a pair of threes and finished with 14 points to lead the Fighting Squirrels. Despite the effort, William Peace continued to control the pace, extending the lead to 45–30 after three.
The Pacers put the game away in the fourth quarter, outscoring Mary Baldwin 21–13. William Peace attacked the paint and converted at the free-throw line, building their largest lead of the game at 27. The Fighting Squirrels continued to battle, with Bethel finishing with a team-high 18 points, but were unable to close the gap.
Mary Baldwin shot 29.8 percent from the field and 27.3 percent from beyond the arc, while William Peace finished at 42.6 percent shooting and forced 22 turnovers on the afternoon.
Mary Baldwin will return to Staunton, Tuesday January 20, to face off against Salem College. Tipoff is set for 6:00 p.m.
Notes:
- Leading Scorers:
- MBU
- WPU
- Amiah Griffin
- Alayna Randolph-13
- Zikira Henderson-10
- Bench Points
- Points off Turnovers
