NEWPORT NEWS, Va. Methodist's women's basketball team was unable to overcome the long-range shooting of host Christopher Newport University Tuesday evening, dropping a 100-36 non-conference decision to the Captains who set a program record with 16 3-pointers.
Freshman
Jazanae Billings led the Monarchs with 11 points, just one point shy of game-high honors.
JUST THE FACTS
Final score: CNU def. Methodist, 100-36
Records: Methodist 1-4, CNU 5-3
Location: Freeman Center; Newport News, Va.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Billings banked a jumper of the glass to open the game's scoring, but CNU responded with the rest of the points in the first quarter, ending the 10-minute frame with a 28-2 lead.
- Once again it was Methodist getting on the board first in the quarter, with Destiny Hardin dropping in a jumper to start the second frame. But by the halftime break the Captains had built their advantage to 36 points (51-15).
- Turnovers were a key aspect of Methodist's troubles in that opening half and throughout the final two quarters, as it piled up 39 turnovers from which CNU -- which ran a full-court press across the first half -- transitioned into 53 points.
- Having troubles with the press and turnovers, the Monarchs were forced into a zone defense that CNU instead shot over, knocking down that program-best figure of 16 and finishing the game shooting exactly 50% from behind the arc.
- In contrast, pressured by a frenetic Captains defense, Methodist missed on all nine of its 3-point attempts.
NUMBERS TO KNOW
- Her 11-point output was Billings' season high, eclipsing the 10 she had in the season opener.
- Billings and Tyzarea Alexander tied for team-high honors off the rim, each pulling down six rebounds.
- Defensively, Alexander and Kadie Snipes each came away with a pair of steals.
- The Monarch starters -- Alexander, Billings, Snipes, Katlin Kendrick and Destiny Hardin -- registered all but two of Methodist's points on the night.
- Keltsy Hardee popped in a put-back jumper from the left of the key for those other two points.
- CNU got scoring from 15 different players, with Kiana Kirkland's 12 points leading the way.
- The Captains began the season ranked No. 15 in the D3hoops.com preseason poll, but back-to-back losses -- against the USA South's William Peace University and Meredith College -- dropped them from the top 25.
NEXT UP
The Monarchs will host The Apprentice School, also from Newport News, in a non-league contest Sunday, December 1 at 2 p.m. in the Riddle Center.