Raleigh, NC – In their eighth USA South Conference game of the season, the Peace College Pacers notched their first conference victory of 2007 by defeating North Carolina Wesleyan 68-56 tonight at the Hermann Center.

Sophomore guard Christy Freeman, who has emerged as the team scoring leader, was able to score nearly half of the Pacers point total by tallying thirty points in just thirty-seven minutes of action tonight as the Pacers outscored the Bishops by twelve points to give Peace that all important first conference victory of the season. Freeman was able to notch twelve of her thirty points by being active at the charity stripe. The sophomore converted on 100% of her free throw attempts by landing 14 of 14 from the freebie line, which proved to be the difference in the contest.

Five minutes into the contest Peace trailed by as many as eight points before Freeman took over. After a LeAnne Horne jumper and an Anna Prorock lay up, Freeman pulled up from behind the arc to tie the game at 15-15. After falling behind again by three points, Freeman tied the game with yet another long range jumper to knot the contest at 21-21 with six minutes remaining in the first half. Six consecutive free throws gave the Pacers a five point lead after Emily Deal, Freeman, and Prorock converted to put the home team up by five points heading into the half.

The Bishops pulled within one point just three minutes into the second half, but Emily Stewart kept the Pacers ahead by a point with fifteen minutes left in the game when she pulled up for a jumper and converted for two points. April Wilson would give NC Wesleyan the lead by landing a twelve foot jumper with thirteen minutes to go, to put her team up by a point, but Wilson would not stop there. She would hit another jump shot to put her team up by as many as five midway through the second period before the Pacers would forge back.

The Pacers regained the lead when Freeman knocked a shot down from inside the arc to put Peace up by a point with eight minutes to go in the game. Wilson would then answer with a score of her own, but it would not be enough as the Pacers stormed on a 12-2 run to give Peace a lead they would not surrender.

The Pacers were led by Freeman who scored thirty in the winning effort. Post player Emily Deal and guard LeAnne Horne added to the offensive explosion for Peace. Deal notched eight points, while Horne put nine points on the board in the winning effort.

The Pacers will be on the road this weekend as they travel to play Christopher Newport on Saturday. Tip off is scheduled for 2:00 PM at the Freeman Center in Newport News, VA. The Pacers will then head north to Winchester, VA to take on Shenandoah University on Sunday at 2:00 PM in Shingleton Gymnasium.