MARYVILLE, Tenn. — The Methodist women's basketball team hung tough, but fell at No. 25 Maryville, 56-46, on Friday evening.

The Monarchs (10-5, 5-2 USA South) trailed the 25th-ranked Scots (14-2, 7-0 USA South) by two points (41-39) with 3:41 to play, but Maryville closed the game on a 15-7 run to remain undefeated in conference play.

Methodist trailed by five points at the half (27-22), but held the Scots to nine points in the third quarter and entered the fourth quarter down just three points (36-33). Maryville opened the final stanza by scoring the first five points to restore and eight-point lead (41-33) with 6:40 to play.

A layup in transition by Alexia Hines followed by a three pointer from Jasmine Canady allowed the Monarchs to make it a three-point game (41-38) with just under 4:30 on the clock. Sydney Bryan made it a two-point contest (41-39) when she split a pair of free throws at the 3:41 mark, but MC's Madison Maples responded with five straight points to push the Scots' advantage to 46-39 by the 2:49 mark.

Canady answered with a layup for MU, but the Monarchs never got closer than five points and Maryville made just enough free throws (5-8) down the stretch to keep Methodist at bay.

Methodist out shot Maryville from the field 36.0 percent (18-50) to 34.0 percent (18-53), and rebounding was virtually dead even at 40-39 in favor of MC. The Scots held a decided edge at the line, getting to the charity stripe 25 times and hitting on 15 attempts. Conversely, MU was just 7-of16 from the line.

Canady led the Monarchs with 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting. Bryan chipped in 11 points and added five rebounds and five blocks. Alexis Wallace had nine points, nine rebounds and three steals, and Jalisia Campbell totaled eight points and 11 boards. 

Mackenzie Puckett led Maryville with 16 points, nine rebounds and four assists. Maples and 13 points off the bench, and Joanna Young ended with 11 points, four assists and six steals.

Methodist is back on the court on Saturday at Covenant beginning at 4:00 pm.

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