FERRUM, Va. -- Ferrum defeated the Methodist women's basketball team, 81-51, on Saturday afternoon at Swartz Gym.
 
The Panthers (16-8, 14-4 USA South) used a 19-3 scoring run over a nearly six-minute stretch of the first half to turn a 6-4 deficit into a 23-9 lead and never looked back in sweeping the season series from the Monarchs (8-16, 8-10 USA South).
 
Monique Lofton opened the scoring with a three pointer 16 seconds into the game for an early 3-0 lead. Ayanna Pegues made good on a pair of free throws and Jasmine Canady hit 1-of-2 that gave MU the aforementioned 6-4 lead.
 
However, Ferrum hit eight of its next 14 shots, pulled down four offensive rebounds that each led to points, and held the Monarchs to 1-of-8 shooting in taking a 23-9 lead by the 11:18 mark. From there, the Panthers' lead swelled to as many as 23 points in the first half as they took a 42-23 lead into the break.
 
After Erin March opened the second-half scoring with a layup for Ferrum, the Panthers never saw their lead fall below 20 points as Methodist could not find an offensive rhythm.
 
The Monarchs shot 28.0 percent (14-50) for the game, but hit on 20-of-28 free-throw attempts (.714).  Ferrum shot an even 50.0 percent (33-66) from the floor, including hitting on 5-of-11 three-point attempts. FC also made 10-of-16 free throws and held a 46-31 edge on the glass.
 
Pegues led MU with 10 points and five rebounds. Lofton added nine points, and Canady had seven points, five assists and four rebounds. Jalisia Campbell and Alexis Wallace each had five boards.
 
For Ferrum, Jacole Hairston poured in 24 points on 10-of-15 shooting. Zarkia Mattox had 17 points, eight assists, six steals and six rebounds, March had 12 points, and Kemani Crawford added 10 points. March, Crawford and Jessie O'Conner all had seven rebounds.
 
Methodist wraps up its regular season on Sunday at Mary Baldwin beginning at 2:00 pm.