Raleigh, NC – Peace College used a late surge in the second half to come from behind and defeat Averett University 68-61 Friday evening in the Hermann Center. The Pacers and Cougars battled shot for shot to finish out the first half before the visitors took a six point lead midway through the second half. Peace would prevail down the stretch as guards Christy Freeman and Amanda Cross nailed clutch free throws with less than two minutes to play to give the Pacers their third USA South Conference victory.

A quick first half did not lack some spectacular shot on both sides. Averett guard Kristen Kozar, who led all scorers in the game, put up nineteen points in the first half alone, while the rest of the Cougars could only muster nine points respectively. On the other end it was LeAnne Horne who came out firing for the Pacers. Horne pitched in eight points for Peace in the first half and ended the game with fourteen points while shooting 50% from the field. Horne’s effort kept the Pacers within striking distance heading into intermission 28-27.

The second half was all Averett early on. Kozar kept on pace, but the Peace defense limited her shooting in the second half. The senior could only produce six points in the second half to finish the game with twenty-five, but also pulled in ten rebounds to record a double-double. Peace capitalized while they swarmed Kozar. Christy Freeman, who started off sluggish in the first half, came on to drop twenty-one on the Cougars, with most of her points coming in the second period. With the game tied up at 61-61 with 1:27 remaining, it was Freeman who nailed 5 of 6 free throws to ice the game and put Peace on top for good. Sandwiched in between Freeman’s freebies was a pair of Amanda Cross tosses from the charity stripe to give Peace the 68-61 win and assure the Pacers of a sixth place finish in the USA South Conference final standings.

Adding to the Peace scoring was Lauren Seeger and Brittany Lynn who added nine points a piece to go with Freeman’s 21-point effort, Horne’s 14-point outbreak, and Amanda Cross, who scored ten points with a few flicks of the wrist.

The Pacers still have one regular season game remaining tomorrow as they host Ferrum College at 2:00 PM. Regardless of the outcome, Peace will finish in sixth place in the conference standings and with all indications that they will battle the loser of the Christopher Newport/Greensboro College match up which takes place tomorrow. Game time and location will be determined on Sunday once all USA South Conference games are completed. Check www.gopeacepacers.org for full details concerning the game.