Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Contributed

Visiting Johnson & Wales University used a 7-0 run to start the game and held off a Pfeiffer University rally down the stretch in a 78-75 exhibition win on Tuesday night in Merner Gym.

In the first quarter it was all Wildcats, as JWU bolted out to a 21-2 lead over the first 8:11 of the game. The run was capped by a pair of free throws form Justice Wallace.

Pfeiffer was ice cold in the beginning, shooting just 17.6 percent in the first as JWU led 23-7 at the end of the quarter.

The Falcon fortunes began to change in the second, as they chipped away at the JWU lead, closing to within five points on three occasions late in the half.

Kortni Pinion of Stanfield sank a pair of free throws to trim the deficit to 33-28 with 2:55 to go before halftime.

After JWU jumped up by 10 points (38-28), Pfeiffer again pushed back, drawing to within 38-33 on a Pinion layup with 44 seconds to go. JWU responded again, this time with a 3-pointer from Shannon Martin to provide the 41-33 halftime score.

In the third, JWU began to pull away, leading by as many as 20 points (59-39) at the 1:16 mark. A quick Pfeiffer spurt made it 61-45 at the end of the quarter.

In the fourth, Pfeiffer came alive and started to make its push when the JWU cushion was trimmed to 68-59 at the 5:57 mark after a Brina Bentley layup.

The Falcons dug further into the Wildcat lead, drawing to within four at the 3:27 mark after another Pinion basket, making it 71-67.

JWU then pushed back, taking the 75-67 lead after a Jamyah Montissol layup with 2:40 left.

Pfeiffer then put together its final push. After a pair of Pinion free throws, the team trailed 76-72.

After a JWU miss and a quick Falcon timeout, A’Mya McClain drilled a 3-pointer from the corner with four seconds to go, making it 76-75.

After fouling, JWU’s Jada Morgan knocked down a pair of free throws with two seconds left, putting JWU up 78-75.

Pfeiffer’s last effort did not materialize as an errant pass on the inbounds play sailed high and out of bounds.

From there JWU was fouled again. After missing both free throws, the loose ball rebound bounced around as the clock expired, sending JWU to the 78-75 win.

Pfeiffer’s Pinion turned in a double-double with 30 points and 12 rebounds. Bentley also secured a double-double effort with a 21-point, 10-rebound outing.

JWU’s Justice Wallace had 24 points and nine rebounds while Jada Morgan and Jamyah Montissol each finished with 12 points. Ineesha Hankerson was the other Wildcat in double figures, as she recorded a 10-point, 10-rebound double-double. Christine Eppler just missed a double-double. She had nine points and 11 rebounds.

Pfeiffer will step away to Emory, Va. this weekend for the Comfort Suites Classic hosted by Emory & Henry. Pfeiffer will take on Randolph-Macon at 8 p.m. Friday and then battle host Emory & Henry at 6 p.m. Saturday.