FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. -- The Methodist women's basketball team overcame a 12-0 deficit within the first five minutes of play, eventually defeating Mary Baldwin, 68-34, on Wednesday night in the Riddle Center.
 
Layups by Jasmine Canady and Allison Dones, and a jumper by Alexia Hines pulled the Monarchs (7-3, 3-0 USAS) within six points (12-6) at the 5:00 mark of the first quarter, and after a layup by MBC's Kaybria Johnson, Methodist went on a 9-5 run to bring the deficit to just two (17-15) at the end of the first quarter.
 
MU took control in the second quarter, not allowing Mary Baldwin (0-11, 0-3 USAS) to score until the 1:45 mark. The Green and Gold took the lead for the first time of the game (18-17) at the 7:30 mark as Lillian Geehring sank a three pointer. After a 20-5 run, the Monarchs held a 35-22 edge going into the break.
 
The Green and Gold continued their scoring ways in the third quarter, going ahead 25 points (53-28) on a good free throw by Kaneya Chambers and a second three by Geehring in the last minute of play.
 
A layup by Sarena Pillow at the 2:45 mark of the fourth quarter gave Methodist its largest lead of the game, 67-29, and the Monarchs allowed the Squirrels to score only five more points to put the final score at 68-34.
 
The Monarchs held the offensive advantage, shooting 36.4 percent (28-77) from the field to Mary Baldwin's 21.4 percent (12-56). MU was 8-13 from the free-throw line, while the Squirrels shot 40.9 percent (9-22).
 
Ayanna Pegues led MU with 13 points and five rebounds with two steals, while Geehring finished with 11 points and two steals. Shakira Boswell grabbed a career-high 10 boards and Sydney Bryan added seven rebounds. Hines recorded a team-high five steals.
 
Kaybria Johnson tallied a team-high 15 points and five rebounds and Teanna Peavy led MBC with 12 rebounds and added six points.
 
The Monarchs are back in action on Jan. 13 as they travel to Greensboro, N.C. to take on host Greensboro at 5:30 p.m.
 
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