FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.  It has been a staggering 340-plus days since a Methodist University basketball team hosted an opponent inside the Riddle Center. Saturday also marked the return of women's basketball as the Monarchs welcomed Pfeiffer University for the season opener and a USA South Athletic Conference matchup, with the Falcons winning the afternoon, 67-43.

Tyzarea Alexander led Methodist with 13 points and nine rebounds, finishing one board shy of her fifth career double-double. 

THE ESSENTIALS
Final Score: Pfeiffer def. Methodist, 67-43
Records: Methodist 0-1 (0-1 USA South); Pfeiffer 1-0 (1-0)
Location: Riddle Center; Fayetteville, N.C.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Trailing by 18, the Monarchs went on a 9-0 run over the final four minutes to close out the second quarter with a score of 32-23. LeTrice Pearson had four points in that run (all on fast break opportunities) while Kadie Snipes added a basket and the and-one.
• Methodist came out firing to start the third quarter, whittling the lead down to 36-32. Pearson hit a three to cut the deficit to eight, followed by buckets from Alexander and Emily Ricks to make it a four-point game. However, the Falcons responded with a 13-0 run to end the third quarter and put the game out of reach.
• Marchelle Willis gets the honor of recording the first points for Methodist to start the 2021 season. Her floater at the five-minute mark of the first quarter put the score at 9-2. In the next offensive possession, Willis assisted on a Snipes' three for an 11-5 score.

THE NUMBERS

• For Snipes, it is officially #recordwatch as she entered her senior year needing 37 made threes to become the program's all-time career leader. She tallied two in this game and finished with nine points, second on the team, along with Pearson.
• Willis led the Monarchs on the defensive end with five steals while Emily Ricks added two steals and a team-high two blocks.
• The biggest difference in this game was the Falcons' ability to score in the paint. Pfeiffer had 46 points in the paint compared to 14 for Methodist. A'Mya McClain led the Falcons with 17 points.

UP NEXT

• Pfeiffer hosts Methodist on Sunday, January 24 at 2 p.m. in Misenheimer, N.C.
• The next series matchup for the Monarchs is against Averett University. Methodist will host the Cougars on Friday, January 29 at 7:30 p.m. before traveling to Danville, Virginia, on Sunday, January 31 to play Averett.