FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. Methodist women's basketball picked up a convincing 68-46 USA South Athletic Conference victory over Salem College on Tuesday night, in the March F. Riddle Center. 
 
This was the Monarchs first 20+ point victory since February 6, 2019, also at home against the Spirits. Methodist currently holds a 13-5 career record versus Salem, including winning the previous four outings with this game as part of that streak.

JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Methodist def. Salem, 68-46
Records: Methodist 2-4 (2-1 USA So.), Salem 1-5 (0-2 USA So.)
Location: March F. Riddle Center; Fayetteville, North Carolina

HOW IT HAPPENED

• After trading a couple of baskets to start the contest, back-to-back made shots by Kiley Hicks and Jessica Drake put the Monarchs in front 9-4. The Spirits made sure Methodist could not extend this advantage by tying the game before taking the lead themselves with a three by Cree Bass to make it 12-11. Zykeria Jenkins would get the Monarchs their lead again with two buckets in a row and kept that heading into the second quarter.
• Another three by Bass saw Salem retake the score at 17-16 two minutes into the new frame. Than layups by Aniyah Tate and Aneesa Irizarry got Methodist back to a 20-17 advantage. The rest of the first half was kept close by both squads with the Monarchs just outscoring the Spirits 10-9 in the last five minutes for a 30-26 halftime score.
• Drake got the scoring going in the third frame by knocking down a three to make it a seven-point difference. After twice Salem got the deficit down to within three, Methodist eventually pushed their lead to double-digits when Jenkins nailed a three-pointer and Melissa D'Leo added a layup in the final two minutes of the quarter.
• The Monarch put the game out reach within the first three minutes of the final frame by going on a 13-0 run, with Jillian Peterson scoring eight of those points. The final four minutes of the game saw coach McNair put in her reserves, which allowed freshman duo Hannah Evans and Alyssa Shazer to score their first career collegiate points.  

MORE TO IT

• Lead all scorer in the contest was Jenkins with a season-high 17 points, while coming off the bench. Tate was the only other Methodist player to reach double-digits with ten. Leading the Spirits was Bass with a team-high 15 points.
• The Monarchs were dominate on the glass by coming down with 48 rebounds while Salem could only grab 34 boards.

UP NEXT

• Methodist will be off for the next ten days before resuming USA South action as the team travels to North Carolina Wesleyan College on Friday, Dec. 10, for a 3 PM game.
• Salem plays again on Saturday, Dec. 4, as they continue their four game road trip to Mary Baldwin University for a 2 PM game.