FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. -- The Methodist women's basketball team saw a first-half lead slip away in falling to Meredith, 58-51, on Wednesday evening at the Riddle Center.
 
After taking a five-point lead (27-22) into the halftime break, the Monarchs (1-9, 1-3 USA South) saw Meredith (5-6, 4-1 USA South) open the second half with a 7-0 run and shoot 52.2 percent (12-23) over the final 20 minutes in pulling out the seven point win.
 
Laquetta Hairston started the second-half run for the Avenging Angels with a pair of free throws just over a minute into the period, and Brittaney Rice added a three pointer at the 18:30 mark that tied the contest at 27-27. Both teams were scoreless over the next three minutes until Kim Hinton gave Meredith a 29-27 lead with 15:20 on the clock.
 
Methodist immediately Meredith's run as Monique Lofton knocked down a jumper on the ensuing possession to tie the game a 29-29, and following a missed triple by Rice, Lofton pushed MU in front, 31-29, with another jumper at the 14:15 mark.
 
However, the Avenging Angels reeled off an 11-2 spurt, including five points from Jessi Hayes, to assume the lead for good (40-33) by the 10:01 mark. The Monarchs were able to pull within two points (40-38) with just over eight minutes to play, but Meredith hung on down the stretch to pull out the win.
 
The second-half shooting for Meredith paled in comparison to its first-half shooting as the Monarchs limited MC to 36.4 percent (8-22) shooting in the opening stanza. Methodist also forced 15 first-half turnovers in building its early lead. For the game, MC finished at 44.4 percent shooting (20-45), while MU shot 33.3 percent (19-57). Meredith out rebounded the Monarchs, 38-30, while MU held the edge in turnovers, committing 21 while MC committed 27.
 
Lofton led the Monarchs with 14 points off the bench, and Ayanna Pegues also scored 14 points. Sydney Bryan had nine points, five rebounds and two blocks. Alexis Wallace had a team-best seven boards, and she and Jalisia Campbell each had four steals.
 
For Meredith, Hayes led all scorers with 17 points, 13 coming in the second half. Rice added 14 points, and Danielle Lee chipped in 11. Raven Gregory led the squad with seven rebounds, and Rice and Lee each had six.
 
The Monarchs are back on the court on Sunday at Piedmont. Tipoff is slated for 3:00 pm.