RALEIGH, N.C. — The Meredith College Avenging Angels basketball team fell to Lynchburg College Saturday afternoon in a hard fought game by a score of 73-60. Jessi Hayes led the Angels with her second career double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds, but it would not be enough for the Meredith to get the win.

Lynchburg jumped out to a 21-7 lead after the first quarter as the Avenging Angels could only muster a 20 percent field goal percentage in the period. The Hornets shot over 58 percent from the field as they jumped out to the early lead. Charmaine Hairston, who was a thorn in the side of the Angels during the first half, contributed nine points while getting to the free throw line twice.

The Angels would fight back as they improved their shooting percentage to 32 percent at the end of the first half. Hayes led the team back from the 14-point deficit to end the half 37-29 with eight points and seven rebounds. Gabi Jessup also contributed to the comeback as she hit two big three pointers in the second quarter to draw closer to the Hornets heading into the break.

Lynchburg came out of the intermission on fire as Olivia Defrancesco hit two big three's early in the third on their way to taking 17 point lead in the quarter. Meredith would not go away quietly as they continued their assault on the basket as Hayes and Jessup kept the Angels within striking distance at 60-51 to end the frame.

Meredith's effort continued in the fourth as they cut the Hornet lead to six with 5:30 left in regulation. But that would be as close as the Angels would get as Defrancesco would put the nail in the coffin with a three pointer to put Lynchburg up by nine with less than five minutes remaining. 

Jessup finished the afternoon with 12 points, including 3-4 from three-point range, while Chandler Hines added nine points of her own. Kim Hinton and Raven Gregory also added six boards apiece as they played a vital role in Meredith's rebounding advantage over Lynchburg on the afternoon.

Meredith falls to 2-8 on the year as they prepare to host USA South foe Ferrum College on Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m. Follow the action live HERE.