BREVARD, N.C. – The Brevard College women's basketball team (3-1, 1-0 USA South) defeated William Peace (1-4, 0-1 USAS) 71-58 on Saturday afternoon in the USA South Conference season-opener for both teams at the Boshamer Gymnasium.

Senior center Naliyah Boyce scored a season-high 19 points on 8-of-11 shooting from the field to go along with a 3-for-3 outing from the free throw line.  Boyce, a native of Marion, North Carolina, also recorded season-highs with nine rebounds, four offensive boards and four assists in the strong all-around performance. 

Josie Hester registered 15 points and a season-high five assists, while Jada Petty-Wilkins delivered with 12 points and five rebounds.  Makenna Parkins came off the bench, scoring 10 points and pulling down seven boards.  Parkins also recorded a game-high two blocked shots.

William Peace was led by Zikara Henderson who went 13-of-14 from the free throw line en route to a game-high 35 points.  The rest of the Pacers combined for 23 points.

WPU scored the game's first points on a 3-pointer by Henderson.  The Tornados responded immediately with a tip-in by Boyce and a made free throw to tie the game.  Petty-Wilkins followed with a 3-pointer to give BC its first lead as the Tornados never trailed the rest of the way.

Brevard took a 20-14 lead at the end of the first quarter, then exploded with a dominant 17-8 performance in the second quarter.  In that second period, Brevard's defense held WPU to just 2-of-15 shooting from the field.

Leading 37-22 at the intermission, Brevard stretched its lead to 21 points with 3:30 to play in the third.  The Tornados went on to maintain a double-digit lead for the remainder of the contest.

Freshmen Kayden Johnson, Malayka Rankin and Kenadi Gentry each made their collegiate debuts, playing second-half minutes.  Johnson scored her first career points on a pair of free throws, while also pulling down her first career rebound.  Rankin also recorded her first career point on a made free throw.  In total, 16 Brevard College student-athletes saw action in the contest as the Tornados outscored the Pacers 23-13 in bench points.

The game marked the return of William Peace Head Coach Annalee Bollinger to her alma mater.  Bollinger, who won her first game as a head coach one week ago, coached under BC Head Coach Donald Hudson for three seasons before arriving at WPU.

Next up for Brevard is a trip to Swannanoa, North Carolina on Monday for a non-conference tilt at Warren Wilson.  

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