FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.  Other than the opening 10-minute quarter, Methodist kept pace with visiting Mary Baldwin University. But the Fighting Squirrels used that early nine-point cushion to push past the Monarchs, 62-47, in USA South Athletic Conference women's basketball action Saturday afternoon in the Riddle Center.

The contest also marked the 14th Play 4 Kay event hosted by Methodist women's basketball, honoring and supporting those who have survived or are battling breast cancer.

JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Mary Baldwin def. Methodist, 62-47
Records: Methodist 3-18 (2-10 USA South), Mary Baldwin 12-9 (7-6)
Location: Riddle Center; Fayetteville, N.C.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Methodist's Tyzarea Alexander scored the opening bucket of the game, but nine minutes later the Fighting Squirrels had forged an 18-4 advantage. A 3-pointer from Jazanae Billings cut into that lead, and then a Billings steal and layup trimmed it even more as the period came to its end.
• Mary Baldwin maintained a double-digit lead -- at one point doubling up the Monarchs, 32-16 -- through much of the second quarter, but a late rush by Methodist over the final three minutes changed the tide.
• Kadie Snipes nailed a trey to begin the comeback, cutting the deficit to 11 before Alexander earned a steal and transition layup to bring the MBU lead down into single digits for the first time in the quarter.
• LeTrice Pearson then hounded MBU's Demet Saygili into a turnover and dished off to Alexander for yet another quick transition layup, bringing Methodist to within seven points, 34-27, at the halftime break.
• A pair of early third-quarter baskets by MBU elevated the advantage back into double digits, but the Fighting Squirrels weren't able to pull away much further, dealing with a battling Methodist squad over the final 18 minutes of the game before escaping with a victory.

INSIDE THE SCORE

• Both teams were both generous and opportunistic in the contest. Methodist turned the ball over 22 times while MBU handed it off 23 times, miscues that turned into 16 Monarch points and 18 Fighting Squirrel points.
• The difference off the rim was negligible -- MBU finished with 52 rebounds, Methodist with 47 -- but off the offensive rim it was MBU that forged an advantage, putting back 14 second-chance points to only nine by the Monarchs.
• Methodist did have trouble finding its range from the floor in the game, connecting on just 25 percent (18-of-71) of its shots, compared to a 38% afternoon by MBU.
• Alexander led Methodist's scorers, dropping in 17 points during the loss, and completing the double-double with a game-high 12 rebounds.
• Also reaching double digits for the Monarchs was Billings who finished with 10 points.
• Mary Baldwin also finished with a two-prong attack, getting a game-high 19 from Codie Heilig and 10 more from Nicole Mallon.

UP NEXT

• Methodist goes on the road for its next two games, traveling to Averett University in Danville, Virginia, on Wednesday and then to Misenheimer, N.C., on Saturday. Both are conference match-ups for the Monarchs.
• Mary Baldwin visits Meredith College on Saturday for an afternoon league game.