FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.  Methodist's women's basketball team started strong and finished even better in a 64-51 USA South Athletic Conference home win against Meredith College Tuesday evening.

In the first and fourth quarters, the Monarchs outscored their opponent a combined 45-21. Logan Lee had 19 points, which tied for most scored by a Monarch player this season (Lee also scored 19 against Stevenson). She racked up 13 of her 19 points in the second half.

THE ESSENTIALS
Final score: Methodist def. Meredith, 64-51
Records: Methodist 2-5 (1-1 USA South), Meredith 0-8 (0-2 USA South)
Location: Riddle Center; Fayetteville, N.C.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Two free throws by Kimberly Schuh made it a one-point game at 45-44 (Methodist leading) with less than five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. The Monarchs responded with a 12-3 run, led by Kayla Goldsmith. Goldsmith had a steal and six straight points. Her steal started the run as she tipped the pass, made the acrobatic save to stop the ball from going out of bounds and into the hands of her teammate.
• Logan Lee electrified the crowd when, with a minute and a half remaining and leading by five points, she made the driving layup and drew the foul, making the shot from the line. Methodist made five-of-six free throws in the final minute to ice the game.
• In the first quarter, the Avenging Angels were outscored 17-3. The Monarchs started the game on an 11-0 run as Meredith missed their first seven shots. They were held to 1-of-11 shooting as they committed more turnovers than baskets made.
• It was the Avenging Angels' turn in the second quarter as they started the period on a 9-0 run to make it a game again, bringing the deficit down to only five points. Meredith was aided by free throws as they went 12-of-15 from the charity stripe while only shooting 4-of-13 from the field in the quarter.
• After the Monarchs sported a 28-23 lead heading into half time, a Janah Hassell three-pointer gave the Avenging Angels their first and only lead of the game at 31-30. Lee responded with a 6-0 run of her own to give Methodist back the lead. Lee scored or assisted on all of the eight points the Monarchs scored in the third quarter as they had a 36-33 lead to end the quarter.

STAT FACTS

• Last year, it took Methodist 14 games to notch their second win of the season and this year, they accomplished that feat in half the time.
• With neither team shooting well from the free-throw line (Meredith shot 67 percent on 27 shots and the Monarchs shot 60 percent on 30 shots) and only five made three-pointers, the difference in the game rested solely on field goal shooting. Meredith went 15-of-54 for 28 percent while Methodist shot much better, 22-of-53 for 41.5 percent.
• Lee has topped double-digits in points four times this season, including two consecutive games with 18 and 19 points. She also added five rebounds and three assists.
• Kodi Centry was a rebound shy of her first double-double this season with 15 points and nine rebounds. She also had a team-high three steals. Off the bench, Kayla Goldsmith had 11 points and five rebounds.
• For the Avenging Angels, Schuh played all 40 minutes and scored 18 points on 23 shots and Caroline Coleman had ten points and a game-high four assists.

UP NEXT

• The Monarchs are not due back on the court until December 15 when they travel to Danville, Va. to play Averett University in a USA South conference game.
• Meredith will go back on the road on December 14 to play Guilford in a non-conference matchup.