Women's Basketball | 2/28/2014 9:45:00 PM

Box Score FERRUM, Va. – Top-seeded Ferrum went on a game-clinching 17-6 run late in the second half to claim a 75-62 victory over No. 3 seed Methodist in the semifinals of the USA South Tournament on Friday evening at Swartz Gymnasium.
 
Trailing by six points (56-50) following a Kemani Crawford basket at the 10:09 mark in the second period, the Monarchs (16-11) would draw to within two points (58-56) of the Panthers (25-2) as Chandler Christensen, Jackie Lyles and Alexis Wallace each scored to make it a one-possession game with just over 7:30 remaining in regulation.
 
Ferrum proceeded to break away as it tallied the game's next 14 points to claim a 72-56 edge with less than a minute to play.
 
In the closing seven-plus minutes, the Panthers hit 5-of-10 shots from the floor and added six points on free throws (6-9). Conversely, Methodist shot 2-of-10 from the floor and turned the ball over six times during the same stretch. The Monarchs went almost seven minutes between points scored until Monique Lofton converted a four-point play with under a minute to go.
 
During the first half, Methodist led by as many as eight points (21-13) as Christensen scored 10 points in the opening six minutes of play. Trailing by this 21-13 margin after two Lyles free throws at the 12:30 mark, Ferrum would steadily chip away at its deficit. The Panthers wrapped up the opening period with an 8-2 run to head the locker room with a 40-38 lead at intermission.
 
For the game, the Monarchs shot 40.0 percent from the field (24-60), but hit only 10-of-32 field-goal attempts in the second half (.313). The Panthers, meanwhile, converted 25-of-60 shots (.417), but hit 11 more free throws than Methodist, connecting on 21 compared to just 10 for the Monarchs. Ferrum held a 46-36 rebounding edge.
 
In what turned out to be her final game in a Methodist uniform, Lyles had 18 points, eight rebounds, four assists and three steals. She scored the Monarchs' last two points and also attempted its final field goal. Christensen also scored 18 points, hitting 8-of-12 field-goal attempts, and Lofton had 12 points. Ayanna Pegues totaled 10 points and eight rebounds.
 
Jacole Hairston scored 17 points for the Panthers, and Shea Smith had 16 points, seven assists, four rebounds and three steals. Kylene Culler totaled six points and a game-high 15 rebounds, and Crawford chipped in 12 points, seven rebounds and three assists off the bench.
 
The Monarchs end the season with a 16-11 record.