RALEIGH, N.C. - The visiting No. 22 Ferrum Panthers won the defensive battle over Meredith College 53-40 in Saturday's USA South action. The Avenging Angels cut a 17-point Ferrum lead in half with 11:03 remaining in the game but would not hold off the seasoned Panther squad.

Down by 16 points at 5:47, Raven Gregory found McKenzi Edwards in the paint for two. Kim Hinton finished inside in the next series and put back an offensive board the next time down the floor to keep the run going.

Keyanka Bailey drained a three-pointer after a Ferrum misstep to cap off the nine-point run and cut the Panther lead to seven with 4:00 left in the half.

Ferrum's Shea Smith took control and pushed the visitors back up by 15 with 1:37 before the intermission.

Neither team scored during the next 1:26 until Edwards hit a pair of freebies and followed with a jumper off a steal from Asia Milton. Ferrum carried a 37-26 advantage into the locker room at the break.

A quiet second half produced a score of 16-14 in favor of Ferrum to give the Panther's their fourth consecutive win.

Edwards led the way for Meredith with 13 points, including a perfect three-of-three from the line, adding three rebounds and three steals. Kim Hinton grabbed six boards and posted as many points. Rookie Jessi Hayes finished the day with six points, including one-of-three from behind the arc.

Boreika Burwell posted the only double-digit scoring for Ferrum with 11, adding seven rebounds. Kylene Culler led all with a dozen boards, and Kemani Crawford came off the bench to notch 10 more of the Panther's 53 total rebounds.

The Avenging Angels wrap up the weekend doubleheader with a 2 p.m. tip-off versus Mary Baldwin Sunday.