Raleigh, N.C. (Dec. 3, 2024) --Senior's Alexis Bynum and Mara Ochoa-Contreras both had career high scoring outputs to lift Pfeiffer to a 63-47 USA South women's basketball win over the Meredith College Angels on the road Tuesday night in Raleigh.
Bynum, who had 24 points, was 6-of-11 from the field and hit a pair of three-pointers. She was also 10-of-12 from the free throw line. In addition, she had four rebounds, three steals and a pair of assists.
Ochoa-Contreras tacked on a career-best 16 points and six steals off of the bench. She finished 7-of-10 from the field and hauled in three rebounds.
Sophomore Lola Cabaniss-Ali added eight points, six rebounds and four steals in the win
Ava Hairston, a three-time USA South Rookie of the Week selection, pulled down two offensive rebounds while scoring eight points.
Pfeiffer's defense limited Meredith to only 15.4 percent shooting from beyond the arc and 35.2 percent from the field while forcing 24 turnovers and converting those miscues into 18 points.
How It Happened
Pfeiffer entered the second quarter tied at 17-17 after a tightly contested first period. Pfeiffer got a great contribution from its bench in the period, as non-starters accounted for eight of its 17 total points.
Meredith then took a 20-17 lead before Pfeiffer responding by going on a 5-0 run, highlighted by a bucket from Cabaniss-Ali, to take a 22-20 lead. The Angels cut into that lead, but the Falcons still enjoyed a 27-26 advantage heading into halftime. Pfeiffer forced six Meredith turnovers in the period and turned them into three points.
Meredith then took a 32-31 lead following intermission before Pfeiffer went on a 7-0 run, punctuated by a basket from Cabaniss-Ali, to grab a 38-32 lead with 6:52 to go in the third. Before the third period was over, the Falcons added five points to that lead and entered the fourth quarter with a 50-39 edge. Pfeiffer took advantage of seven Meredith turnovers in the quarter, scoring eight points off of takeaways.
The Falcons coasted to the win from there, increasing their margin of victory by outscoring the Angels 13-8 in the fourth quarter. Pfeiffer took advantage of seven Meredith turnovers in the quarter, scoring five points off of those takeaways.
Game Notes
» The Falcons held the Angels to only 35.2 percent shooting from the field.
» Alexis Bynum, Mara Ochoa-Contreras, and Ava Hairston combined to account for 76 percent of the Falcons points.
» Pfeiffer had a great day defensively, holding Meredith to 15 percent from beyond the arc on 13 attempts.
» The Pfeiffer bench made an impact by adding 20 points to its scoring output.
» The Pfeiffer defense forced 24 turnovers.
» Pfeiffer cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 15 offensive boards in the game.
» Alexis Bynum led the Falcons with a game-high 24 points.
» Pfeiffer got a team-high seven rebounds from Hannah Isley.
Up Next
Pfeiffer will return to Merner Gym on Saturday, Dec. 7 for a 2:0 p.m. USA South game with North Carolina Wesleyan.
