RALEIGH, N.C. – Guilford College’s Anais Weatherly (Winston-Salem, N.C./Mount Tabor) posted 17 points and 13 rebounds in the Quakers’ Sunday afternoon victory over Meredith College, 69-49.
The Quakers held the lead from the Avenging Angels in a tightly contested first quarter with the period featuring two ties. Guilford extended their lead as large as six in the second quarter before Meredith closed within two points. In a back-and-forth period, the Quakers created distance in a 2:40 stretch late in the period with an 8-2 run.
The Quakers used their defense in the third quarter to open up on a 14-4 run, spanning the period’s first eight minutes to grow the lead to 19 points. Guilford extended their lead as large as 26 points in the middle of the fourth quarter as the Quakers cruised to victory.
Guilford held Meredith to just 27.3 percent shooting in the second half after the Avenging Angels matched Guilford’s 41.2 percent first-half shooting effort. The Quakers shot 31.8 percent in the second half. Meredith shot 6-of-18 from three-point rang compared to the Quakers’ 4-of-13.
Guilford held a strong advantage on the glass, out-rebounding Meredith, 45-28, thanks to 18 offensive rebounds. The Quakers turned 23 Avenging Angels’ turnovers into 23 points while Meredith turned 16 Quakers’ turnovers into ten points.
Weatherly shot 8-of-21 from the field while adding three assists to her first double-double of the season. Kate Clark and Lauren Ramsey (Lexington, N.C./North Davidson) each chipped in 11 points and four assists a piece. Essence Abraham (Greensboro, N.C./Dudley) came off the bench to score ten points in her first collegiate contest.
Stephanie Girard led Meredith with 11 points off the bench on 3-of-4 shooting. Chandler Hines was the remaining Avenging Angel in double-figure scoring with ten points while Ashley Hudson totaled eight points and six assists.
The Quakers (1-0) return to action Sunday, traveling to cross-town rival Greensboro College for a 7 p.m. Wednesday evening contest.