GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Greensboro College women's basketball  team used a strong second half to top the Panthers of LaGrange College Monday, 63-55, in a USA South Athletic Conference showdown.
 
LaGrange (10-6, 4-3 USA South) took an early 4-0 lead before Alexis Hite and Jada Peterson sparked a 5-0 run to put the Pride (9-6, 5-1 USA South) on top by one.
 
After trading baskets, the Panthers held a 15-12 lead before Hite tied the game with a three-pointer as time expired in the first period.
 
Over the first five minutes of the second period, LaGrange outscored Greensboro College 9-3 to take a 24-18 lead before heading into the intermission up 33-27.
 
"I told the team at the half that we were still in the game," Head Coach Randy Tuggle said. "We were lucky to only be down by six, but that is why we play two halves of basketball."
 
Following the intermission, , the Panthers held on to their narrow advantage until the Pride used an 8-0 run to take a 50-46 lead. Shamara Richardson, Heather Burton, Kamerin Williams, and Hite each tallied two points during the run.
 
Greensboro then stretched its lead to 57-51 midway through the fourth period following a 5-0 run.  Marla Crawford, who had eight of her 13 points in the second half, started the run for Greensboro before Monica Smalls capped it with a free throw.
 
Greensboro converted on all four of its free-throw attempts in the final minute to secure the victory.
 
"We did a great job of moving the ball around tonight to find the open shot," Tuggle said. "As we go through practice the rest of this week, we have got to continue working on the things that we addressed from Day 1 of practice. When we work together as a team, we can win as a team. The bottom line is we have to continue working on ourselves every day. "
 
Hite finished with a team-high 17 points, Marla Crawford with 13 points. Williams pulled down a team-leading nine rebounds. Courtney Pearsall, who earned the USA South Women's Basketball Player of the Week honor Monday, finished with four points and six rebounds.
 
Marilaurn Farr led the Panthers with 14 points, while Madison Barker finished with 10 points.
 
The Pride women will return to action at 5:30 p.m. Friday when they travel to take on the Scots of Covenant College. For more information on Greensboro College women's basketball, continue to follow www.greensborocollegesports.com.