FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.  With points at a premium, it was visiting Averett University that came away with a low-scoring 58-49 USA South Athletic Conference win over Methodist in women's basketball action on Saturday afternoon.

It was a dogfight as both teams' defenses did their jobs. Each team shot below 30 percent from the field and combined for 4-of-34 from behind the arc. It was a physical and chippy matchup with 44 fouls resulting in 67 free throws. The lead changed hands 12 times with three tie scores before Averett was able to finally pull away in the fourth quarter.

Kayla Goldsmith played the role of team anchor as she led the Monarchs in points, rebounds, and blocks. She had a stat-line of 11 points, 6 rebounds, and a career-high 5 blocks in the game. The Monarchs limited Averett to 23 percent shooting (18-of-77) from the field, a season-best for Methodist, defensively.

The Cougars' work on the boards helped vault them to the win despite the poor shooting. Averett established new season-highs with 69 total rebounds, including 35 off their offensive rim. The offensive boards gave the Cougars extra possessions, allowing them to outpace the Monarchs in shots taken, 77-52, and in second chance points, 28-5.

THE ESSENTIALS
Final score: Averett def. Methodist, 58-49
Records: Methodist 3-14 (1-8 USA South), Averett 11-7 (7-2)
Location: Riddle Center; Fayetteville, N.C.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Samantha Tecson's three-pointer early in the fourth quarter gave Averett their first double-digit lead at 45-35. When the Monarchs responded with a 7-0 run to whittle the lead down to only three points. Tecson answered with another made three-pointer. For good measure, she pushed the score to 50-42 with less than five minutes remaining with the layup after snagging an offensive rebound.
• Clutch free throw shooting by the Cougars, going four-of-five in the last 1:20 minutes kept the Monarchs from getting a chance to make magic happen after Logan Lee cut the deficit to six points. Overall, Averett shot under 53 percent (19-of-36) from the line.
• The biggest determinant for the Cougars pulling away in the second half was their rebounding. Averett outrebounded Methodist 33-11 in the second half, including coming away with 18 offensive boards for 19 second chance points. The rebounding differential was slight in the first half, the Cougars snapping 36 to the Methodists' 31.
• The Monarchs led for two minutes early in the third quarter when Kaneya Chambers layup broke up the 23-23 halftime score. Kayla Goldsmith gave Methodist its last lead at 28-27.
• It took over four minutes for the teams to break the 0-0 tie. Averett got on the board first after both teams missed their first 18 shots combined, not including two missed Cougar free throws.

STAT FACTS

• Tyzarea Alexander was the only other Monarch to score in double-digits with 10 points and six boards.
• Destiny Hardin played well as a reserve. She tallied eight points and five rebounds in only seven minutes on the court. LeTrice Pearson also made the most of her minutes with seven points on a perfect three-of-three shooting.
• This was the Monarchs fourth-best defensive performance in regards to points allowed with 58.

COUGARS' LOOK

• Brooke Carthon was a rebound shy of a double-double with 17 points and nine boards. Tecson was the only other Cougar with double figures at 11 points.
• It was a group effort on the boards as there were four Averett players that snagged nine rebounds and three other Cougars that had at least six boards. Carthon and Ravyn Johnson led the way with five offensive rebounds apiece.
• 58 points scored are in the bottom five of the Cougars' point totals. They are 2-2 when held to under 60 points.

UP NEXT

• Methodist is due back on the court in Riddle Center Sunday against N.C. Wesleyan at 3 p.m.
• After four straight games on the road, the Cougars are gifted with a five-game homestand, starting with Salem College on Tuesday at 6 p.m.