FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. -- Christian Sanders scored a game-high 17 points and Kayla Goldsmith added a double-double of 12 points and 11 rebounds but the Methodist women's basketball team fell to Ferrum 65-58, on Sunday afternoon at the March F. Riddle Center.
 
The Panthers (3-3, 2-0 USA South) scored the game's first nine points, prompting an early timeout from the Monarch (1-5, 1-1) bench. The Monarchs answered with six straight points of their own to make it 9-6, but FC quickly pushed back out to a 10-point lead at 21-11 by the close of the first stanza.
 
Eight straight points from MU to open the second quarter pulled the Green and Gold to within two at 21-19 on Lillian Geehring's layup with 7:25 remaining until halftime. The Panthers steadily pushed out to a 10-point advantage (31-21) with 1:01 left in the half and took a 33-23 lead into the break.
 
In the second half, the Monarchs kept contact with Ferrum and used a 6-0 run to pull within three points (47-44) on a Sanders layup with 8:54 to play. Three would be as close as MU would get however, as eight straight points from FC re-built an 11-point edge (55-44) and it would not dip below seven the rest of the way.
 
Methodist shot 42.6 percent (23-54) as a team, while Ferrum checked in at 44.6 percent (29-65). The Monarchs outrebounded Ferrum 40-31, but were -14 in turnover margin for the contest.
 
Kodi Centry added seven points and six rebounds for the Monarchs, while Goldsmith also had four steals.
 
Ferrum was led by Zarkia Mattox, who had 14 points, seven assists, six steals and five rebounds. Maggie Self scored a team-high 16 points and Kelsey Mosely added 10 points.
 
The Monarchs return to action at Greensboro on Wednesday beginning at 7:30 pm.