FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The Methodist women's basketball team defeated William Peace, 67-61, in its 11th annual Play4Kay game in the Riddle Center on Senior Day.
 
Christian Sanders led the Monarchs (7-17, 5-8) with 19 points and also tallied eight rebounds with an assist and two steals. Jalisia Campbell added a double-double with 18 points and 16 rebounds (14 defensive) after hitting eight free-throws. Kaneya Chambers dropped 11 points and picked up seven rebounds, while Sydney Bryan scored nine points and collected five rebounds and two assists.
 
For the Pacers (16-7, 9-4), Nadine Ealey led with 14 points and 11 rebounds to post a double-double while Tyler Mercer finished with 12 points on 4 of 9 shooting from the floor. Also, Jayde Grant ended the day with 11 points in 30 minutes off the bench.
 
WPU opened the scoring with a three from Ealey before the Monarchs hit three-straight baskets, capped by a three-ball from Sanders, to take a 7-4 lead inside the first three minutes of the contest. Each side exchanged scored before a jumper by Niki Mumphery tied the game at 12-12 with two minutes left in the period. The Pacers tallied one more score in the final minute to take a 14-12 lead into the second quarter.
 
William Peace edged out to an eight point lead on multiple occasions throughout the second period, but MU was able to keep within three points as the Pacers led 30-27 at the intermission. In the second quarter, the Monarchs were held to just 2 of 10 shooting from the field, but capitalized on hitting 10 of 16 free-throw attempts.
 
The Monarchs opened the final stanza capping off a 12-5 run that began in the last seconds of the second period to take a 34-30 lead. After a bucket by Ealey, the Monarchs worked the lead up to nine points after a layup by Amber Scott, 41-32, with two and a half minutes remaining in the period. Methodist would outscore William Peace 17-7 in the quarter and take a 44-37 lead into the fourth quarter.
 
The final period began with a 10-2 run by the Pacers, bookmarked by a layup from Whitney Wallace, to give William Peace a one-point advantage, 47-46. The Monarchs battled back and took a five-point lead after a jumper from Chambers with just under six minutes in regulation. Methodist took advantage of late-game fouls to hold on to a 67-61 victory over William Peace.
 
The Green and Gold shot 30.8 percent (20-65) from the floor and 58.3 percent (21-36) from the charity stripe, while the Pacers finished at a 30.9 percent (21-68). Meanwhile, WPU held a 54-50 rebound advantage. Methodist forced 19 turnovers compared to allowing 15.
 
Additionally, Mumphery ended the night with five points, four rebounds and a steal in 13 minutes off the bench.
 
The Monarchs close the regular season tomorrow, Feb. 12, at Greensboro beginning at 2 pm.
 
 
 
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