RALEIGH, N.C. - Mary Baldwin outscored the William Peace Pacers 52-38 in the second half Thursday to take an 85-74 victory in USA South Athletic Conference action.

Jalen Gathers paced four Mary Baldwin players in double figures while posting a double-double with 29 points and 10 rebounds. Gathers made 7-of-16 shots from the field, including 5-of-8 from 3-point range. Mya Coleman came off the bench to add 14 points and was followed by A'Cetta Farrait with 12 and Mary Moran with 11. Point guard Demet Saygili had a solid floor game with eight points and seven assists.

The game was decided in the third quarter when the Fighting Squirrels outscored William Peace 27-14 to wipe out a three-point halftime deficit and take a 10-point, 60-50 lead heading into the final quarter.

The Pacers led by eight  points, 45-37, early in the third quarter, before MBU used an 11-0 spurt to erase the deficit. Hannah Varner started the comeback with a bucket before a 3-pointer by Saygili trimmed the Pacers' lead to 45-42. A jumper by Farrait made it a one-point game, 45-44. Gathers then scored on a driving layup at the 6:47 mark to put MBU ahead 46-45. Gathers added 1-of-2 at the foul line to cap the run, making the score 47-45.

After the Pacers made 1-of-2 free throws, MBU closed the third quarter with a 12-4 spurt to lead 60-50 entering the final quarter. Farrait and Peace's Sarah Baker traded baskets before a jumper by Coleman and a 3-pointer by Saygili moved the Squirrels to a 54-46 lead. Mekayla Clarke added a bucket to make it 56-48 before a basket by the Pacer's Stormie Brown cut the MBU lead to 56-50. Coleman and Saygili closed the quarter with buckets for the 10-point, 60-50 lead.

William Peace stormed back to take the lead, 67-66, with 5:26 left in the game, but MBU responded with a 9-0 run to regain the upper hand. Gathers knocked down a 3-pointer to put the Squirrels back out front and Coleman added a bucket for a 71-67 MBU cushion. Moran then added a pair of buckets, making the score 75-67 with 3:42 to play. The Pacers pulled to within four points, 78-74. with 1:20 left, but MBU finished the game with an 7-1 spurt to close out the win. 

Mary Baldwin improved to 7-6 overall and 3-4 in conference play. The Squirrels are back in action Sunday when they travel to Meredith.