Joe Burgarino-Assistant Director of Athletic Communication

DURHAM, NC- Behind a double-double by Lauren Janka the Pfeiffer women's basketball team (1-0) knocked off Division I N.C. Central (0-1) 50-47 on Friday evening in the Falcons season opener. Janka scored 10 points on 5-for-7 shooting, and pulled down 15 boards for the Falcons. Meg Pritchard scored a game-high 20 points and shot 50% from the floor for the night.

Pfeiffer jumped out to a 16-7 first quarter lead. The Falcons scored the first six points to start the game, including a triple by Pritchard. Sophomore Sydni Bickford knocked down a jumper that put Pfeiffer up 13-2. N.C. Central ended the period on 6-0 run.

Janka scored the first four points to start the second quarter of play, extending the Falcon lead to 20-7. The Falcons took a 10 point lead into the second half. Pfeiffer played stellar defense in the first stanza holding the Eagles to just 6-for-30 from the field and 1-for-7 from beyond the arc.

N.C. Central dominated the third frame outscoring Pfeiffer 18-6 in the period to take a 36-34 lead into the final period. A Pritchard three pointer pulled the Falcons within one point 38-37. With 1:26 left Jada Blow knocked down a trey to put the Eagles up two 45-43. With the Falcons trailing 47-45, Bickford took a pass from Kayla Whitworth and knocked down a shot from long range putting the Falcons up 48-47 with just 25 second left in the contest. Dajea Scott then forced a turnover and knocked down 1-of-2 free-throws extending the lead to 49-47.

Ariana Tillman pulled down 11 boards, and Scott dished out four assists to lead the Falcons. Pritchard finished the night 3-for-5 beyond the arc.  Pfeiffer played great defensively holding the Eagles to only 25% from the field (16-for-64) from the floor.

The Falcons return to action in an exhibition contest against Meredith on Tuesday night. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.