RALEIGH, N.C. -- The Meredith College basketball Angels edged cross-town rival William Peace University 66-59 in a thrilling 40-minute contest Saturday afternoon. Jessi Hayes led the Avenging Angels with a season-high 22 points, including a perfect 12-12 from the free throw line.

With their third game of the year shooting more than 80 percent from the stripe and tallying their third lowest turnovers with 13 on the day, the Angels put away William Peace for the second time this season.

Meredith opened the game with a quick lead and extended that advantage to seven on a Hayes three-pointer at 2:51. But the Pacers rallied with a 7-1 run to end the first quarter trailing by just one at 13-12.

The hosts used the momentum to push past the Avenging Angels by seven during the first 2:37 of the second frame. Gabi Jessup finally ended Meredith's drought with a pair of free throws with just under six minutes remaining in the half.

Hayes dished off to Raven Gregory for a bucket during the Angels' next possession and scored Meredith's next seven points to put the Meredith back in front 24-23 at 2:47. Three more free throws from Hayes along with a pair of Gregory layups would send the Angels into the break with a two-point advantage.

The team's battled for control throughout the third quarter, but Meredith managed a 42-38 lead heading into the final 10 minutes of regulation.

Peace came out fighting to tie the game at 42 on back-to-back layups. But the momentum was shortlived as Hayes and Nicole Miller launched consecutive three-pointers to put the Angels back in control.

Meredith spread the gap by as many as 10 points down the stretch, thanks in part to netting 8-of-10 free throws in the final 4:11 of play, and held on for their fifth USA South win of the season.

Jessup finished with a dozen points, including four-of-four from the free throw line, and Kim Hinton added 11 points, 11 rebounds for her fifth double-double on the season.

Cassidy Clark led the hosts with 19 points, eight rebounds, and Zhana Gooden finished with 14 points in the loss.

Meredith travels to Rocky Mount, N.C., Sunday to face off with the N.C. Wesleyan Bishops in a 2 p.m. contest. Follow the action live HERE.