FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.  The second quarter made all the difference in the game Thursday evening as visiting Bob Jones University was able to leave the Riddle Center with a 58-53 win over Methodist women's basketball in non-conference action.

A 14-0 run by Bob Jones proved a deciding stretch in the contest as the Bruins were able to turn a 14-13 second-quarter deficit into a 27-14 advantage, ultimately outscoring the Monarchs, 21-7, in the period.

Methodist actually "won" the first, third, and fourth quarters by a combined score of 46 to 37. The Monarchs did find themselves trailing by 15 early in the fourth quarter but stormed back to make it a one-possession, 52-50 game with 1:31 remaining after a steal and layup from LeTrice Pearson.

The ball control by the Monarchs was a thing of beauty in this game. The eight turnovers committed in this game are the fewest by a Methodist team in over a decade. Simultaneously, the 23 steals corralled by the Monarchs is the most in a game since December 2012.

THE ESSENTIALS
Final score: Bob Jones U. def. Methodist, 58-53
Records: Methodist 3-17, Bob Jones 10-9
Location: Riddle Center; Fayetteville, N.C.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Trailing 52-41 with under five minutes to play, the Monarchs went on a 9-0 run over the next four minutes. Pearson had two baskets which bookended the run. She also came away with two steals in the timespan, along with two blocks from Chakalyn Patterson.
• There was a 32-second sequence that was full of electric basketball in the 9-0 Methodist run. Patterson found Snipes for a three to cut the deficit to 52-48. Patterson earned a block on the next Bruins' possession and after Bob Jones U. was awarded the ball, Pearson came away with the steal and the fastbreak layup for the 52-50 score.
• Unfortunately, the Bruins scored the next six points to hold on for the win. Pearson made a three-pointer in the game's final seconds for the last field goal.
• After entering halftime down 29-18, the Monarchs showed resolve by cutting the deficit to 36-31 following a three-pointer from Jazanae Billings. Over the final 2:30 of the third quarter, however, the Bruins ended on a 7-2 run to enter the final period with a double-digit, 43-33 lead.

STAT FACTS

• This game is proof of marked improvement by Methodist after Bob Jones U. defeated the Monarchs earlier this season, 81-54, in November.
• Methodist turned 29 Bruins turnovers into 22 points, compared to the Bruins converting eight Methodist turnovers into 14 points. Billings, Pearson, and Tyzarea Alexander finished with a game-high four steals each while Katlin Kendrick and Tay Hamilton each had three steals.
• Snipes had a team-high 15 points with four made threes.
• Pearson (11) and Billings (10) led the reserves with 21 of the bench unit's 25 points. Pearson also added three rebounds, and a block while Billings had four boards and three assists.
• Patterson was also a valued member of the "bench mob," finishing with a game-high and career-high nine rebounds, in addition to three blocks, three assists, and two steals.
• Despite taking 21 more shots than the Bruins, the Monarchs finished with one less made field goal (20-of-73; 27 percent), compared to Bob Jones U. (21-of-52; 40 percent). Prior to the fourth quarter (8-of-17; 47 percent from the field), the Monarchs just could not buy a bucket.
• Madison Schupe had a game-high 18 for the Bruins.

UP NEXT
Saturday, February 1 at 2 p.m. The Monarchs host conference foe Mary Baldwin in the annual Play 4 Kay game.