Daytona Beach, Fla. - In a thrilling contest at the Ocean Center, William Carey secured a narrow 59-57 victory over Carroll College.
 
William Carey started strong, establishing an early lead of 17-9 after the first period. Shaneal Corpuz ignited the offense with several mid-range jumpers, while Brooklyn Cuevas contributed with a key layup and free throws. Alyssa Hillard capped an impressive 11-0 run with a three-pointer in the final minute, turning the momentum after Carroll initially led 7-4.
 
Carroll College fought back in the second quarter, outscoring William Carey 14-11 as WCU's offense struggled, shooting just 25% from the field and missing all four three-point attempts. The Lady Crusaders faced a dry spell in the early minutes, allowing Carroll to narrow the gap to 20-17. Hillard's jumper broke the drought for WCU, extending their lead to five. In the closing minutes of the quarter, both teams exchanged baskets, with William Carey holding a 28-23 lead at halftime.
 
The Fighting Saints quickly tied the game at 30 just a minute and a half into the third quarter. However, the Lady Crusaders responded with five consecutive points, regaining the lead and maintaining a 45-39 advantage heading into the final quarter. Carroll shot 38.9%, spearheaded by Karstetter's six points and a three-pointer from Albrecht. In response, William Carey hit crucial three-pointers from Cuevas and Anna Rose Engle, along with strong bench contributions from Meyah Doyle.
 
As the game progressed, the Fighting Saints continued to chip away at the lead and found themselves down just 52-50 midway through the quarter. A three-pointer from Kanduch put Carrol within one at 54-53 with four minutes remaining. After a minute had passed, Corpuz sank a layup to extend the lead to three. Brooklyn Cuevas sealed the victory at the free-throw line, going 3-for-4 in the quarter. Despite Carroll's late-game surge, WCU's composure and 75% free-throw shooting in the quarter ensured their 59-57 win.
 
Brooklyn Cuevas led William Carey with 12 points, while Madelyn Ladner added 11 points. Shaneal Corpuz contributed 10 points, and Leah Sutton grabbed 10 rebounds.
 
The Lady Crusaders will have the rest of the year off before returning to action on January 5, when they face Dillard University. Tip-off is set for 5:30 PM in New Orleans, La.