Misenheimer, N.C. (Dec. 7, 2024) --Sophomore Lola Cabaniss-Ali collected 11 rebounds, but the Pfeiffer women's basketball team fell to the visiting North Carolina Wesleyan Battling Bishops 71-66 in Merner Gym on Saturday afternoon.

The Falcons (4-4, 3-1 USA South) had three players score in double figures, led senior by Alexis Bynum, who had 17 points, seven rebounds, four assists and five steals. Fellow senior Kenadie Hudler added 15 points and two steals while Mara Ochoa-Contreras chipped in with 12 points, six rebounds and two steals off the bench.

Pfeiffer shared the ball well in Saturday's game, racking up 15 assists on 25 made field goals. Individually, Peyton McPeters led the way for the Falcons with five assists.

The Pfeiffer defense caused its share of mistakes in Saturday's game, forcing 19 NCWU turnovers. Those takeaways turned into 23 points on the offensive end of the floor. Cabaniss-Ali's five steals led the way individually for the Falcons.

How It Happened

After falling behind 1-0, Pfeiffer went on a 9-0 run with 8:29 left in the first quarter, culminating in a bucket from Hudler, to take a 9-1 lead. The Falcons then lost some of that lead, but still entered the quarter break with a 14-13 advantage. Pfeiffer did most of its first quarter damage in the paint, scoring eight of its 14 points close to the basket.

North Carolina Wesleyan rallied to take a 29-20 lead before Pfeiffer went on a 7-0 run starting at the 46 seconds mark in the second period, highlighted by a bucket from Hudler, to narrow its deficit to 29-27, a score that would hold until halftime.

North Carolina Wesleyan continued to increase its lead after halftime, building a 33-30 advantage before Pfeiffer went on a 6-0 run, punctuated by a basket from Bynum, to grab a 36-33 lead with 7:07 to go in the third. North Carolina Wesleyan responded to seize a 55-48 lead entering the fourth quarter. Pfeiffer knocked down three three-pointers in the quarter to score nine of its 21 total points.

North Carolina Wesleyan kept widening its lead in the fourth, constructing a 65-54 advantage before Pfeiffer went on a 7-0 run to shrink the deficit to 65-61 with 1:13 to go in the contest. North Carolina Wesleyan responded and outscored the Falcons the rest of the way, ending the game with a final score of 71-66. Pfeiffer fired away from deep in the quarter, knocking down four shots to account for 12 of its 18 points.

Game Notes

» Pfeiffer found success from three point land, knocking down nine treys in the game.
» The Falcons put on a passing clinic, recording an assist on 60 percent of made baskets.
» The Falcons got five steals each from Lola Cabaniss-Ali and Alexis Bynum.
» The Pfeiffer defense forced 19 turnovers.
» Pfeiffer cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 13 offensive boards in the game.
» Alexis Bynum led the Falcons with 17 points.
» Pfeiffer got a game-high 11 rebounds from Lola Cabaniss-Ali.

Up Next
Pfeiffer will return to USA South play after the holiday break when they travel to Fayetteville, N.C. for a 2:00 p.m. game with Methodist University on Saturday, Jan 4, 2025.