FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. -- The Methodist women's basketball team fell to Averett, 61-55, in the Riddle Center on Saturday evening.
 
Shelly McDonald and Christian Sanders each finished with 15 points, as McDonald also pulled down nine rebounds. Jalisia Campbell ended the day with 10 points and 14 rebounds to register a double-double. Sydney Bryan finished the night with nine points, four rebounds, three blocks and three steals.
 
For the Cougars (12-7, 5-3), Samm Chandler led with a game-high 21 points on 7 of 15 shooting from the field, including four treys. Frida Lundquist finished with 12 points, while Joelle Deese pulled down a team-high 10 rebounds.
 
The Monarchs (4-14, 2-5) scored the first points of the game and opened with an 8-3 lead after a layup by Campbell. Averett tied the game before a jumper from Shelly McDonald gave MU a 15-13 lead. The Cougars missed seven-straight shots and were held scoreless in the final three minutes of the first period. The Monarchs also forced four turnovers in the stretch.
 
In the second quarter, AU took an 11-point lead (28-17) after a 13-2 run over the opening five minutes of the period. Two-straight baskets by Sanders cut the lead to six before each team exchanged scores as the Cougars held a 34-28 lead at the break.
 
A jumper from DaQuila Washington gave AU a nine-point lead (42-33) midway through the third quarter. The Monarchs worked the lead down to three points after a layup by Campbell, but a pair of free throws from Brooke Carthon gave the Cougars a 44-39 edge. The Green and Gold scored the final four points of the period to cut the lead to one points (44-43) heading into the final period. AU missed its final seven attempts from the floor and was held to just 10 points in the third.
 
The Cougars extended their lead to six points (51-45) after a three-pointer by Alixis Roccia before the Monarchs worked the lead down to two after a pair of layups from McDonald. AU eventually extended the lead back to six points before eventually getting the win, 61-55.
 
As a team, the Monarchs shot 34.8 percent (23-67) from the floor compared to 31.9 percent (23-72) from the field by the Cougars. AU held a 54-44 advantage in rebounds on Saturday night.
 
Methodist returns to action tomorrow, Sunday, Jan. 29, against Meredith in the Riddle Center at 2 pm.