Women's Basketball | 1/18/2014 8:14:00 PM

Box Score FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The Methodist women's basketball dropped its first home game this season as it lost to Piedmont, 73-54, on Saturday afternoon at the Riddle Center.

The Monarchs (8-3, 4-2 USA South) turned the ball over 28 times and finished the day converting only 27.6 percent of their field-goal attempts (16-58).
 
Down by eight points (34-26) at halftime, MU opened up the second period by closing the gap to three points (41-38) as Jalisia Campbell scored six straight points for Methodist during a stretch, and Jackie Lyles made two free throws at the 12:51 mark. Seven unanswered points by Piedmont  (11-3, 5-0 USA South), including four points by Lauren Hamel and a layup by Le'Shaunda Jones, brought the Lions' edge back to double figures at 10 points (48-38) with 9:13 remaining.
 
To start the day, the Monarchs struggled mightily to score as Piedmont accounted for the first 10 points of the contest. After missing its first 14 field-goal attempts, Methodist would convert on an Ayanna Pegues jumper with 13:19 left in the first half, but still trailed by nine points (12-3). The Lions continued to pull away as the opening half progressed, going ahead by 13 points (19-6) after a quick spurt near the midway point of the first period, which included a pair of Taylor Swoszowski free throws, a three-pointer by Chandler Alverson and a Carly Sales free throw. The two teams left the court at intermission with Piedmont in front by eight points (34-28).
 
In spite of going to the free-throw line 44 times overall, Methodist scuffled as it made 47.7 percent of its shots from the foul line (21-44). The Lions attempted 39 free throws and converted on 61.5 percent (24-39). The Monarchs claimed the edge in rebounding, 53-46, but Piedmont only turned the ball over 19 times.
 
Lyles paced MU with 13 points to go along with eight rebounds. Campbell had 10 points and a team-high nine boards. Wallace totaled eight points and six rebounds.
 
Sales tallied 12 points and eight rebounds for Piedmont, and Swoszowski had 12 points and three rebounds. Jones finished with 12 points, and Hamel chipped in nine points and seven boards.
 
Up next for Methodist will be a Wednesday home game against William Peace with tipoff scheduled for 5:30 pm.