FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.  Tyzarea Alexander (16 points and 10 rebounds) and Destiny Hardin (10 points and 10 rebounds) notched their first career double-doubles in a 61-56 non-conference loss against visiting The Apprentice School Sunday afternoon.

It was a back-and-forth affair that featured a whopping 14 lead changes and eight tie scores with the final lead change occurring with only 40 seconds remaining in the game. In the fourth quarter alone, there were five lead changes and three ties.

Alexander's clutch five-point sequence gave Methodist a 56-53 edge with 1:15 left to play. Alexander made both of her free throws to tie the game and then returned with a three-point dagger on an assist from Katlin Kendrick as the shot clock was winding down to take the lead. However, an 8-0 run by the Builders to end the game clinched the win for The Apprentice School.

JUST THE FACTS
Final score: The Apprentice School def. Methodist, 61-56
Records: Methodist 1-5, The Apprentice School 1-2
Location: Riddle Center; Fayetteville, N.C.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The key moment for the Builders came after Alexander's three. With The Apprentice School trailing by three, the Builders managed to corral three consecutive offensive rebounds before Aquazia Jones' made a layup with an assist from Alexis Wethington to make it a 56-55 game.
• In about five seconds, the Monarchs' three-point lead was converted to a three-point Builders' lead. Down by one following Jones' basket, Wethington earned the steal and the bucket off of a Methodist inbound. She was fouled and missed the free throw but The Apprentice School was awarded another offensive rebound and Wethington, fouled again, made both of her attempts from the free-throw line that time for a 59-56 lead.
• The Builders' went two-for-four from the charity stripe down the stretch while Kadie Snipes' desperation heave to tie the game was no good.
• It looked like The Apprentice School was going to run away with the game in the third quarter, following a 12-0 Builders' run that gave them a 40-29 lead, their largest of the game. However, Methodist countered back with an even more impressive 13-0 run to take the lead heading into the fourth quarter. Snipes hit from downtown to cut the deficit to four and added two free throws and two steals in the two-minute span while a three-point play from Alexander made it a one-point game. Leading by one following Snipes' free throws, LeTrice Pearson added a long-range bomb of her own for the punctuation mark.
• The first and second quarters saw the Builders start off fast. The Apprentice School scored the first nine points of the game and then scored the first seven points to begin the second quarter but the Monarchs were able to battle back in both the frames before the Builders took a slight 30-29 advantage into halftime. In the first quarter, Methodist finished the frame on a 9-0 run to give themselves a 19-15 lead.

STAT FACTS

• Alexander had a career-high 10 rebounds, including four offensive boards while earning her fourth double-digit scoring game of the season. She scored her 16 points on a very efficient seven shots. She also had a team-high three steals.
• Two games after notching career-highs in points, rebounds, blocks, and steals against Piedmont International, Hardin upped the ante, setting a new personal-best in points scored while tying her personal-best for most rebounds in a game. She also added two assists and four blocks, one off from her career-high.
• Snipes was the other Monarch in double-digits with 10 points, while adding four boards and two steals.
• Jazanae Billings finished with seven points, three assists, and three rebounds.
• The 45 boards and plus-10 rebound differential in this game was a season-high for Monarchs.
• However, the good day on the glass could not make up for the 32 Methodist turnovers, which helped The Apprentice School rack up a 28-8 advantage in fast break points.
• Jones led the Builders to victory with 21 points, seven rebounds, and seven steals.

UP NEXT
The Monarchs begin their 2019-20 USA South Athletic Conference slate with a December 4 date at home against William Peace University. Tip-off scheduled at 7 p.m. in the Riddle Center.