MARYVILLE, Tenn. -- Methodist's women's basketball team dropped a 54-43 decision to Greensboro in the quarterfinal round of the USA South Conference Tournament on Thursday afternoon at Maryville College.
 
The Monarchs (9-17), seeded fourth in the North Division, kept the game close until the final minutes as the North's top-seeded team, Greensboro (22-4) pulled away in the game's final minutes.
 
Both teams struggled to score in the first half, combining to shoot 10-for-52 (.192) over the game's first 20 minutes, which resulted in a 16-15 score at the break in favor of the Pride. The Monarchs converted just 5-of-28 field-goal attempts, while GC connected on just 5-of-24 shot attempts.
 
In the second half, the Monarchs took a 27-25 lead on Monique Lofton's layup at the 15:04 mark. She had a chance to extend the lead to three points, as she was fouled on the play, but was unable to complete the three-point play. The Pride answered with a brief 6-0 run to take a 31-27 lead on Syerra Troutman's layup in transition just over a minute later.
 
The Monarchs inched ahead, 32-31, on Lofton's triple at the 13:08 mark, but the Pride came right back with another spurt, this one a 7-0 burst, to assume a 38-32 lead when Shanita Hampton split a pair of free throws with 10:30 remaining.
 
Methodist halved its deficit when Jalisia Campbell converted from in close to pull MU within 38-35 and 9:05 to play. That would be as close as the Monarchs would get however. The Pride lead grew  to 10 points (47-37) when Vontreece Hayes nailed a pair of free throws with 6:53 to play, and they stretched it out to 15 points with 1:59 left.
 
Lofton led the Monarchs with 17 points and added six rebounds, two assists and two steals. Ayanna Pegues chipped in 10 points with seven boards. Campbell also pulled down seven rebounds, and Jasmine Canady had three assists.
 
Troutman led the Pride with 16 points, and Hampton and Tiffani Stephens scored 10 points apiece. Hampton contributed seven assists, six rebounds, and three steals. Hayes added nine points and eight rebounds, and Azha McNeal contributed eight boards as well.