FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. -- Alexis Wallace poured in a career-high 28 points and added 14 rebounds, and the Methodist women's basketball team withstood a late comeback in earning a 76-71 win over N.C. Wesleyan on Wednesday night at the March F. Riddle Center.
 
Wallace hit on 10-of-15 field goal attempts, and 6-of-8 free throws in setting a new career mark in scoring. She scored 18 of her points in the second half and was one of three Monarchs (3-12, 3-6 USA South) to reach double figures in scoring.
 
The Monarchs took an 11-point lead at halftime as NCWC (4-12, 2-9 USA South) committed 21 first-half turnovers. The game was tied a 23-23 with just under seven minutes left in the opening before the Monarchs closed the period on a 16-5 run. Wylonda Surles started the surge with a jumper and Wallace added seven points during the run. Sydney Bryan closed the run, in which MU forced eight turnovers, with a bucket just before the halftime buzzer to give the Monarchs the 11-point bulge at the break.
 
In the second half, the Monarchs maintained a seven-point lead until reaching a 14-point advantage (58-44) courtesy of a pair of free throws by Jasmine Canady with 9:34 left in the contest. As the clock dipped below three minutes to play, MU still held an 11-point lead (69-58) before a late surge from the Bishops.
 
Layups by Alexis Fitzgerald and Kenyata Harris in a span of 18 seconds pulled the Bishops within seven points (69-62), and after a layup by Jalisia Campbell restored a nine-point advantage, Fitzgerald and Synquis Strothers hit back-to-back triples that made it a 73-68 game with just under a minute to play. However, the Monarchs hit 3-of-6 free throws down the stretch and withstood another three from Harris to escape with the win.
 
Methodist outshot NCWC 44.3 percent to 38.5 percent, and forced the Bishops into 28 turnovers for the game. NCWC held a 40-38 edge on the glass and shot 9-of-16 from long range, while MU was just 3-of-14 from deep.
 
Ayanna Pegues added 14 points and six rebounds for MU and Campbell finished with 12 points. Monique Lofton had eight points and Canady had four assists and three steals.
 
The Monarchs will now play host to Averett on Saturday beginning at 4:00 pm.