FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.  Using a second half surge, North Carolina Wesleyan was able to outlast Methodist women's basketball, 72-53, in USA South Athletic Conference action Saturday afternoon.

Late in the third quarter, N.C. Wesleyan went on a game-altering 10-0 run that turned a 35-30 lead into a 15-point, 45-30 advantage.

Utilizing two five-person platoons, Methodist was able to keep the Bishops off-balance for the majority of the first half. LeTrice Pearson, Trinity Ross, and Emily Ricks made their first starts of the season with Chakalyn Patterson earning her second.

THE ESSENTIALS
Final score: N.C. Wesleyan def. Methodist, 72-53
Records: Methodist 2-14 (1-7 USA South), N.C. Wesleyan 13-4 (8-1)
Location: Riddle Center; Fayetteville, N.C.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• N.C. Wesleyan runs at the end of the second and third periods was the difference in the game. Ahead 21-20 in the second quarter, the Bishops went on a 9-0 run to eventually take a 32-24 lead into halftime.
• Before N.C. Wesleyan's 10-0 third quarter run, the Monarchs had a 6-0 run to cut the deficit from 11 to five after baskets from Patterson, Ross, and Tay Hamilton.
• Methodist had used another 6-0 run in the second quarter to tie the game at 16-16. Tyzarea Alexander and Zytipha Joines connected on layups before Patterson found Ross on a jumper to tie the game midway through the period. Patterson and Ricks traded buckets with the Bishops before the 9-0 run that created separation.
• Kadie Snipes' three to cut the score to 57-46 was the closest the Monarchs came to shrinking the deficit in the fourth quarter.

STAT FACTS

• With three players making their first starts, their energy levels were evident on defense as N.C. Wesleyan was held to under 24 percent (4-of-17) shooting from the field in the first quarter.
• It was a block party for the Monarchs with Patterson registering a career-high three blocks and Destiny Hardin finishing with four. Ricks and Ross each chipped in one block en route to a season-high nine blocks for Methodist as a team. Nine blocks in a single-game is the most since January of the 2017-18 season.
• Hardin and Patterson had near-identical statlines with eight rebounds and four points. Patterson also added two assists and a steal.
• Alexander had a team-high 12 points on a tidy five-of-eight shooting, plus five rebounds.
• Pearson had nine points, three rebounds, and two assists while Joines finished with six rebounds and five points.
• Good shooting by Methodist in the second (53.3 percent from the field) and fourth (37.6 percent) quarters were not enough to make up for shooting 25 percent or less in the first and third.
• Off the bench, Cydney Nichols had a game-high 18 points for the Battling Bishops.

UP NEXT

• Sunday, January 19 is Parents Day as the Monarchs welcome Averett University to the Riddle Center for a 2 p.m. tip-off game.
• N.C. Wesleyan returns home January 22 to take on visiting Meredith College at 7 p.m.