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Audio | Recap | Box Score
Squirrels trap Pacers with 71-64 win
| Final | 1 | 2 | T |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mary Baldwin (5-13, 3-10) | 31 | 40 | 71 |
| Peace (2-18, 1-12) | 39 | 25 | 64 |
| Raleigh, N.C. (Hermann Center) | |||
| Mary Baldwin | Peace |
|---|---|
| Pts: MILES, Shanice - 32 | Pts: Crystal Alston - 19 |
| Reb: DESPER, Sabrina - 8 | Reb: Callie Yohn - 11 |
| Ast: MILES, Shanice - 5 | Ast: Rachel Lyons - 5 |
| Team Statistics | Mary Baldwin | Peace |
|---|---|---|
| Field Goal % | 37.9% (22-58 ) | 38.7% (24-62 ) |
| Rebounds | 35 | 43 |
| Assists | 13 | 20 |
| Turnovers | 20 | 27 |
| Pts off Turnovers | 20 | 15 |
| 2nd Chance Pts | 15 | 11 |
| Pts in the Paint | 20 | 18 |
| Fastbreak Pts | 6 | 2 |
| Bench Pts | 8 | 12 |
Raleigh, N.C. - The Mary Baldwin Fighting Squirrels rallied from an eight-point halftime deficit to claim a 71-64 win over the Peace Pacers in a USA South game at the Hermann Center Saturday afternoon.
Peace (2-18, 1-12) controlled the game in the first half but suffered a bad break as on the last play before halftime, star forward Crystal Alston fell to the ground with an ankle injury. Alston stayed on the floor for several minutes before walking off under her own power.
Alston had 13 points in the first half and had played strong defense on Mary Baldwin star Sabrina Dresper, who had torched the Pacers for 29 points in the earlier meeting between the two schools.
When the second half began, Alston did not even return to the bench. Without their leader on the floor, the Pacers went into a funk. The Squirrels went on an 18-4 run to open up a 49-45 lead.
Meanwhile, Alston made it back to the bench and eventually back in the game, even though she was visibly hobbled.
A jumper by Alston gave Peace a 51-49 lead with 8:15 remaining in the game but it was the last time the Pacers would hold the advantage.
Two free throws by Alston tied the game 53-53. Then Shanice Miles sparked Mary Baldwin to a 9-2 run that gave the Squirrels the lead for good. Miles had a 3-pointer, converted all three free throws after being fouled on a 3-point attempt and then came up with a steal and an assist on a three by teammate Meagan Barron.
Another jumper by Alston cut the deficit to 62-59 with 1:39 remaining. But Desper converted an old-fashioned three-point play with 71 seconds remaining to clinch the game.
Desper and Miles went a combined 6-6 from the free-throw line down the stretch to ice the game for the visitors. Miles finished with 32 points while Desper added 22.
The Pacers out-shot and out-rebounded the Squirrels but could not overcome 27 turnovers. The visitors also had 11 more free throws and went 21-25 from the line in the game.
Alston led Peace with 19 points while Krystal Williams added 13 and Derrica Jones contributed 10.
It is a quick turnaround for the Pacers, who return to action with another home game Sunday versus Shenandoah. Tipoff is slated for 2:00 PM.
