RALEIGH, N.C. - The Meredith College basketball team lost Thursday's cross-town battle 67-63 to William Peace University. Postponed until today due to this week's winter weather, the Avenging Angels came up short in Thursday's USA South action.

Meredith opened strong holding a five-point advantage at 16:37, but the Pacers scored the next six to edge into the lead.

Nicole Miller found Raven Gregory in the paint on the next play, and the teams traded buckets through the next 3:36.

Jessi Hayes helped Meredith regain the lead on a jumper and a pair of free throws, but the game's leading scorer Pacer Brittany Boykin evened the score.

During the next minute Danielle Lee forced a Peace turnover and completed the play on the offensive end. WPU responded with their own layup before Lee put up two more points for Meredith.

A series of missed opportunities left Diana Owens with the ball on a defensive rebound. She dished out to Rice for a fastbreak bucket to edge the Avenging Angels ahead by four with 3:21 remaining in the half. Laquetta Hairston kept that lead alive until the intermission.

WPU's Boykin tied the game on the seventh occasion during the early moments of the second period, but Miller found Kim Hinton close to the basket for two points to launch a 13-3 Meredith run.

The Pacers hit a trio of baskets to cut the Angels' lead to just two with 12 minutes remaining in regulation before Meredith's Ashley Hudson ended the run with a jumper.

The Angels continued to drive inside and maintained a seven-point advantage with just under nine minutes left in the game.

WPU's Ka'La Jordan drained a three-pointer as the Pacers put together another six-point run to cut the Meredith lead to one at 7:32.

Lee was fouled inside on the next play and hit both free throws to hold on 52-49, but Peace hit two more threes en route to a 57-52 lead with 5:32 remaining in regulation.

The Avenging Angels continued to battle but would not regain control the rest of the way.

Lee led Meredith with 14 points, eight rebounds, and Hairston finished with 13. Miller and Rice combined for 21 points, and Hinton tallied eight boards in the loss.

WPU's Boykin led all with 24 points, including 10-of-12 from the stripe to keep the Pacers out front down the stretch.

Meredith travels to Greensboro Friday night in a 7 p.m. USA South pairing. The Pride lead the North division standings with just two games remaining in the regular season.

Follow the Avenging Angels' tournament run via the USA South championship website. Link HERE for complete live coverage and results of tournament play beginning next Thursday. Seeding and quarterfinal pairings will be announced at the completion of the regular season slated for Sunday afternoon.