Women's Basketball | 1/4/2014 7:53:00 PM

Box Score FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. - The Methodist women's basketball team won its conference opener, defeating visiting LaGrange, 64-56, on Saturday afternoon at the Riddle Center.
 
The Monarchs (5-1, 1-0 USA South) held an eight-point halftime lead, but the Panthers (5-4, 0-1 USA South) came as close as three points (51-48) after outscoring Methodist by an 18-13 margin to begin the second period, capped by a Mayana LeGrande layup at the 7:17 mark. During this 12-plus-minute stretch, LaGrange held MU to 3-of-17 shooting, and forced eight turnovers. But a 9-1 Methodist run would rebuild the gap back to 11 points (60-49) after Chandler Christensen made a layup with 4:59 remaining.
 
To start the afternoon, MU sprinted out to an early 10-2 advantage as four different Methodist players contributed points less than four minutes into the contest. Two Jackie Lyles free throws would extend the Monarchs' edge to double digits (17-7) at the 13:10 mark. The Panthers, however, stayed in the game, momentarily claiming a one-point lead (18-17) following Caroline Brashier's three-pointer with 9:05 remaining in the first half. Methodist would close out the opening period by scoring 21 of the game's next 38 points to exit the court at halftime ahead by eight (38-30). In what spanned just over nine minutes, MU shot 5-of-11 from the floor and sank 8-of-15 free throws, but took advantage of 2-of-10 shooting by LaGrange in addition to six Panther turnovers.
 
Overall the two teams attempted a combined 68 free throws and totaled 54 turnovers altogether. The Monarchs wrapped up the day with a 34.7 field-goal percentage (17-49), shooting 47.4 percent in the first half (9-19) before cooling off to the tune of 26.7 percent in the final period (8-30). The Panthers struggled with their shooting throughout the afternoon, converting 17-of-54 field-goal attempts for a 31.5 percent success rate.
 
Maya Banks and Lyles each had 11 points for Methodist. Ayanna Pegues finished with nine points, a game-high 12 rebounds and two steals, and Alexis Wallace added nine points and five boards.
 
Shaye Butler notched a double-double for LaGrange, totaling 11 points and 10 boards. Brashier also had 11 points, and LeGrande finished with nine points and eight rebounds. Kelsey Mitchell added nine points, three assists and three steals.
 
Methodist will conclude its five-game homestand when it hosts Huntingdon on Sunday for a 1:00 pm matchup.