WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Christian Sanders scored a season-high 23 points and Kayla Goldsmith added a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds as the Methodist women's basketball team fell 85-68 at Salem on Saturday afternoon.
 
Sanders shot 8 of 17 from the field, including 5 of 9 from long range and added seven rebounds. Goldsmith was 5 of 10 from the floor, and Kodi Centry and Kadie Snipes each scored 10 points for the Monarchs (1-10, 1-3 USA South). Centry nearly missed a double-double with nine rebounds and Amber Scott pulled down 11 boards.
 
Sabrina Shepherd led the Spirits (4-7, 2-2) with 17 points and was one of five players in double figures. Hannah McBride scored 15, Tyler Davenport added 14, and MiKayla Seivers and Shenell Pharr totaled 12 and 11 respectively.
 
The Spirts led by as many as six points in the first quarter, but the Monarchs scored the final six points, five from Sanders, to pull within 20-18 after 10 minutes of play. In the second quarter, Salem opened play with an 11-1 run to take a 31-19 lead on a Taylor Mabe jumper with 7:10 to play. A three-point play from Kaitlin Kendrick with 4:49 left in the period got MU back within single digits, but five straight points from the Spirits pushed the lead back to 14 (36-22) with 2:05 on the clock and Salem took a 39-26 lead into the break.
 
In the second half, the Green & Gold got within seven points (48-41) on a Snipes triple with 3:33 left in the third period, but Shepherd answered with a three for Salem and the Spirits took a 57-47 lead into the fourth quarter en route to the win.
 
Methodist shot 34.8 percent (24-69) as a team and pulled down 44 rebounds with 25 turnovers. Salem shot 45.1 percent (32-71) with 42 boards and 14 turnovers.
 
Methodist is at Pfeiffer on Sunday beginning at 2 pm.