ROCKY MOUNT, N.C.  Tyzarea Alexander knocked down a season-best 15 points Friday evening, but host North Carolina Wesleyan College was able to break free from Alexander and a pesky Methodist squad in the fourth quarter to secure a 75-55 USA South Athletic Conference women's basketball victory at Everett Gymnasium.

THE ESSENTIALS
Final Score: N.C. Wesleyan def. Methodist, 75-55
Records: Methodist 0-7 (0-7 USA South); N.C. Wesleyan 11-1 (9-0)
Location: Everett Gymnasium; Rocky Mount, N.C.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Battling Bishops led by just seven points at the halftime break before building that advantage to 16 (46-30) late in the third quarter.
• Methodist chipped and whittled away at that deficit, finally pulling to within six points, 46-40, with 9:28 to go in the game.
• A Jania Johnson jumper ignited a 10-0 run that began in the third, and another Johnson jumper followed by a 3-pointer from Jessica Drake to close the frame had cut the deficit to nine.
• Johnson struck again to start the scoring in the fourth, rolling in a layup, and soon after Aniyah Tate hit the second of two free throws to bring Methodist to within six.
• N.C. Wesleyan halted that run, though, and finished off the contest nearly doubling up the Monarchs, 29-15, over the final nine minutes.

GAME NOTES

• Alexander's double-digit night was her third of the season.
• The senior was a perfect 4-for-4 from the foul line and she also came down with a Methodist-best seven rebounds.
• LeTrice Pearson also reached double figures -- for the third consecutive game -- finishing the night with 11 points.
• Jazanae Billings proved to be a tough defender to get past, as she came away with three steals to lead the Monarchs.
• Four Battling Bishops hit double digits, led by Cydney Nichols' 17 points. It was Javana Jones, however, who finished the night with a double-double, scoring 14 points while nabbing 10 rebounds.

UP NEXT

• Methodist and N.C. Wesleyan go back at each other in their next contest, a 2 p.m. game Sunday in the Riddle Center on Methodist's campus.
• The game also marks the 15th season in which the Methodist women's basketball team will host its annual Play 4 Kay event. Donations are still being accepted, with all proceeds forwarded to the Kay Yow Cancer Fund.