FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. -- The Methodist women's basketball team dropped an 80-73 decision to Greensboro College on Sunday afternoon at the March F. Riddle Center.
 
The Pride improved their record to 18-4 on the season and 13-3 in the conference, while the Monarchs, who had won three straight, slipped to 8-14 on the year and 8-8 in league play.
 
Greensboro benefited from 10 made three pointers on the game, shooting better than 50.0 percent (10-18) from long range, and used the long ball during a crucial stretch in the second half.
 
The Monarchs, who led by two points at the half (37-35), led by five points (47-42) with 13:36 left to play in the game before the Pride used a 20-3 surge to take a 62-50 lead by the 8:52 mark. Greensboro employed a full-court press and forced MU into 10 turnovers and 0-for-4 shooting during the run. The Pride shot 5-of-9, including three triples, during the stretch.
 
Tiffani Stephens started the run for GC by splitting a pair of free throws and Marla Crawford turned a Monarch turnover into three points with a shot from long range to cut the MU lead to a single point (47-46) with 13:01 on the clock. Three straight empty possessions for the Monarchs were followed by a three pointer from Joslyn Spires that gave GC the lead for good at 49-47 with 12:00 on the clock.
 
Ayanna Pegues and Stephens traded free throws as neither team connected from the field until Shanita Hampton's layup at the 10:34 mark gave Greensboro a 53-49 advantage. Syerra Troutman added a layup in transition and Crawford connected from deep again, followed by two more charity tosses from Stephens that pushed the lead to 12 (62-50) with 8:52 to play.
 
Methodist closed to within five points by the 2:01 mark (76-71) on Maria Jones' jump shot, but Stephens answered with a layup, and the Pride made just enough free throws down the stretch to eke out the win.
 
The Monarchs gained the lead at halftime by virtue of a 12-2 run over the final 3:16 of the first half to turn a 33-25 deficit into a 37-35 lead at intermission. Pegues started the run with a three-point play, and Alexis Wallace turned two consecutive turnovers by Greensboro into six points as she hit back-to-back three pointers for a 34-33 lead at the 1:54 mark. Jalisia Campbell added a free throw and a jumper in the final minute to give MU the halftime lead.
 
For the game, Methodist shot 41.4 percent from the floor (24-58), while Greensboro checked in at 47.4 percent (27-57). Methodist connected on just three shots from long range, but knocked down 22-of-32 free throws, while the Pride made just 16-of-27 attempts from the line. Greensboro boasted a 41-35 edge on the glass and turned the ball over 23 times, while MU committed just 20 turnovers.
 
Pegues led all scorers with 21 points on 7-of-13 shooting from the field and 7-of-10 shooting from the line. Campbell had 15 points and Wallace had 13 points. Pegues and Wallace each pulled down eight rebounds, and Jasmine Canady had five assists and three steals.
 
Stephens led five Greensboro players in double figures with 17 points, Hampton added 14, Alexis Hite chipped in11, and Crawford and Vontreece Hayes each scored 10. Stephens also came away with eight rebounds, Syerra Troutman added seven rebounds, and Joslyn Spires recorded four assists and four steals.
 
Methodist plays at N.C. Wesleyan on Wednesday beginning at 7:30 pm.