ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. - Jessi Hayes scored a career-high 27 points to lead the Meredith College basketball team to a 61-48 win over N.C. Wesleyan in Sunday's USA South action. With 21 points from Hayes in the second period, the Avenging Angels claimed their first conference victory of the season.

The host Bishops controlled the first 20 minutes of play and carried a six-point lead into the locker room at the half thanks to a three-point bucket at the buzzer.

Wesleyan extended that lead to nine during the first 2:20 of the second half.

After missing three attempts at the rim during the next offensive set, Meredith picked up a defensive stop at the other end to get the ball back. Hayes completed a three-point play to set the Angels on a 16-4 run to take a three-point lead with 9:32 left to play.

The team's exchanged buckets before N.C. Wesleyan tied the game on another three-pointer with 7:25 remaining in regulation.

After a scoreless 1:45 passed, Hayes drained her first of four consecutive field goals for Meredith, including three-for-three from beyond the arc. The flurry gave the Avenging Angels a seven-point advantage with 3:40 left to play.

Meredith's Laquetta Hairston forced a Bishop turnover in the backcourt, and Kim Hinton finished the play at the other end.

The Bishops began to foul, but Hayes drained five-of-six free throws down the stretch to keep the Angels out front for good.

Hinton posted 10 rebounds for her fourth consecutive double-digit effort inside, and Raven Gregory turned in 11 boards and four blocks. Brittaney Rice and Danielle Lee combined for 13 points, but no one came close to Hayes' effort from the field.

Wesleyan's Kenyata Harris and Jordan Cager posted double-digit scoring efforts with 12 and 11 points, respectively, and Netaih Davis led all with 13 rebounds, including eight on the offensive end.

Meredith hosts a USA South doubleheader next weekend beginning with a 2 p.m. tip-off Saturday afternoon versus LaGrange. The Angels close out the series Sunday afternoon with Huntingdon. Follow the action of both games live HERE.