FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.  Despite a career-high 21 points from Zytipha Joines, Methodist women's basketball was unable to recover from a 37-20 halftime deficit, eventually falling to visiting Averett University, 72-62, in USA South Athletic Conference play Sunday afternoon.

Over the final 14 minutes of the game, the Monarchs outscored the Cougars, 40-23. Joines had 12 points on four-of-six shooting, plus three assists in the fourth quarter alone as Methodist outpaced Averett, 24-14, in the final frame. With a three-pointer from Kadie Snipes with nine seconds left, Methodist had successfully managed to whittle a 27-point deficit midway through the third quarter down to a nine-point game.

In the final 5:37 of the contest, Joines and Chakalyn Patterson effectively took over scoring for the Monarchs. Of the team's last 18 points, Joines and/or Patterson had a hand in every score. Joines accounted for 15 of the last 18 points, scoring 10 and assisting on a Patterson layup and Snipes' three. Patterson was responsible for 11 after scoring five and assisting on a pair of Joines' three-pointers. Patterson also had a forceful block in that time span. Together, the two players energized the Monarch bench and the Monarch fans in attendance on Parent's Day.

THE ESSENTIALS
Final score: Averett def. Methodist, 72-62
Records: Methodist 2-15 (1-8 USA South), Averett 11-6 (5-3)
Location: Riddle Center; Fayetteville, N.C.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The second quarter, when the Monarchs were outscored 21-7, was the difference between a win and loss for Methodist in this game. The Monarchs shot 2-of-14 in the period compared to the Cougars' going 9-of-18 from the field and three-of-six from long range.
• Following Averett gaining a 27-point, 49-22 lead, Methodist showed fight with an immediate 11-3 run to make it a 52-33 game late in the third stanza.
• Joines and Tyzarea Alexander scored or assisted on the first three baskets of the fourth quarter to further cut down the deficit to 58-44. The Monarchs' last three made field goals were all three pointers, thanks to the two from Joines and one from Snipes.
• A 7-0 Averett run to open the second quarter blew the game wide open from a 16-13 Cougars lead to a 23-13 advantage. Consecutive Averett three-pointers ballooned its lead to 15 with the score at 29-14.
• In the first quarter, Snipes hit a trey-ball early for the Monarchs' second field goal of the game and later, Snipes found Joines from deep for the Monarchs' final field goal of the quarter.

STAT FACTS

• Joines went 7-of-14 from the field and three-of-five from deep. She also had a team-high four assists and all of those numbers are new personal marks for the freshman. 
• With only 14 turnovers, that marks season-best ball control by Methodist. The Monarchs also boasted a 14-4 advantage in transition.
• Snipes was the other Monarch to score in double digits, finishing with 11 points on 50 percent shooting (four-of-eight from the field and three-of-six from behind the arc).
• Alexander finished with 11 rebounds, including a career-high eight offensive boards, along with eight points and two steals.
• Off the bench, Patterson finished with seven points and four rebounds while Tay Hamilton provided six points, six rebounds, two assists, and two steals.
• Averett outscored Methodist in the paint, 44-26, and had a 20-11 edge in second chance points. Four Cougars scored in double-digits.

UP NEXT

• After their recent three-game home stand, the Monarchs travel to Raleigh, N.C. to take on host William Peace, Wednesday, January 22. Tip-off scheduled for 7 p.m.
• Averett will not return to the court until January 25 when they go on the road to visit Salem College at 2 p.m.