NEWPORT NEWS, Va.  A late rally, that saw The Apprentice School take the lead for the first time with under three minutes remaining in the game, allowed the host Lady Builders to escape with a 70-66 victory over Methodist's Monarchs in non-conference women's basketball action Wednesday evening.

Methodist led from the opening basket until an Apprentice School defensive rebound led to a fast-break layup by Brittney Jones, elevating the Lady Builders in front, 60-59, at the 2:49 mark of the fourth quarter.

Already playing with just five healthy players, the Apprentice School's Aquazia Jones was injured during the play that resulted in the defensive rebound and was unable to return, forcing the Builders to close out the game with just four players on the court.

THE ESSENTIALS
Final score: Apprentice School def. Methodist, 70-66
Records: Methodist 4-17, Apprentice School 7-12
Location: Apprentice School Athletic Center; Newport News, Va.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Methodist opened the game with a strong first quarter, breaking out to a 19-8 lead after 10 minutes.
• The Monarchs had a 38-29 advantage at the halftime break, but that nine-point lead was not just because of a solid first half by Methodist, but also from an abysmal 20 minutes of shooting by the Builders who entered recess hitting just 22 percent (9-of-40) from the floor.
• The advantage was whittled down to six, 53-47, by the end of the third quarter and then to just one until a Keneya Chambers layup pushed Methodist's cushion to 59-56 shortly before the pivotal plays in the game.
• An Apprentice layup, the fast-break layin by Jones, and then an empty Methodist possession followed by a 3-pointer from the left wing by Anastasia Tunis -- her only  bucket of the game -- turned the game around.
• The Monarchs battled back to knot the score at 63-63 on Tyzarea Alexander's two free throws, but a 7-2 close by the Builders enabled the home team to bring home the improbable victory.

STAT PACKAGE

• Five players reached double digits in scoring for the Monarchs, four of whom -- Alexander, Kayla Goldsmith, Logan Lee and Kadie Snipes -- finished with 11 points, while Chambers ended the night with 10.
• Snipes dropped in a pair of treys from the same spot, deep in the left corner, during Methodist's first-quarter flurry.
• Methodist resoundingly won the rebounding battle, 57-41, but Apprentice turned the tide with a 23-9 advantage in turnovers.
• Sabre Clegg's 24 points for the Lady Builders led all scorers. With only the five healthy players, Apprentice pushed four players into double digits including 17 by Jones despite her missing the final 2:50 of the contest.

NEXT UP

• Methodist steps back into USA South Athletic Conference action with its next games, Saturday at Meredith College and Sunday at Greensboro College.
• The Lady Builders host Washington Adventist on Sunday in an early-afternoon contest.