FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. Methodist women's basketball pulled out a 64-58 victory over the Cougars of Averett University, in a USA South Athletic Conference game, on Monday night in the March F. Riddle Center.
 
JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Methodist def. Averett, 64-58
Records: Methodist 9-7 (7-3 USA So.), Averett 4-11 (4-4)
Location: March F. Riddle Center; Fayetteville, North Carolina

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Monarchs started off hot following the tip-off, going up six to nothing in the opening minutes of the game. Averett's Genesis Weiters laid it in under the basket giving the Cougars their first points on the board. Methodist kept the lead, stretching it to 10-4, after an and-one from Kiley Hicks on a fast break lay-up. Averett answered back with a three-pointer and lay-up, closing the Monarchs lead to one. Methodist led 13-10 going into the second quarter.
• Three minutes into the second quarter, the Cougars tied the game at 15 all. Both teams exchange baskets back and forth before Averett advanced to a four-point lead, the team's largest lead in the first half. Hannah Evans answered by knocking down two back-to-back threes to put the Monarchs back on top. Methodist progressed to a six-point lead, 30-24 after Aneesa Irizarry's made free throw before heading to the locker room.
• The Cougars start the second half-strong, going on a 5-0 run, thirty seconds into the frame. Averett tied the game a third time, at 36-36 with four minutes to go. Just when it seem like the Cougars had the momentum, Monarch's own Jillian Peterson swished two free throws to spark new life into Methodist. Monarchs advance on a 7-0 run before closing the quarter, finishing 43-38 at the horn.
• Methodist kept a steady lead early in the fourth quarter. Evans knocked down her third three of the night to put the Monarchs up 49-42. Averett did not back down as the Cougars slowly crept their way back into the game. Courtney Hunt for Averett hit a deep three to give the Cougars a one-point lead, the team's first lead since mid-way through the second quarter.
• With Methodist down 54-53, Irizarry scored a lay-up to put the Monarchs ahead 55-54. Both teams exchanged free throws before Hicks knocked down a mid-range jumper, giving Methodist the lead 59-58 with just under two minutes left in play. Averett called a timeout, down 60-58 with 54 seconds left, after Irizarry's made free-throw.
• The Cougars advance the ball to mid-court with an opportunity to tie the game, but a missed shot attempt and rebound by Hicks gave the Monarchs the possession. Irizarry dribbled up the sideline where Averett's Jaa Brown committed a foul and sending Irizarry back to the charity stripe, where she made both.
• With the Monarchs up 62-58, the Cougars took their final timeout to advance the ball to mid-court for a second time. After a missed jumper from Averett, Zykeria Jenkins secured the rebound along with a foul, sending her to the line where she went 2 for 2 to put the Monarchs up 64-58, with 26 seconds left.

MORE TO IT

• Methodist went to the line 35 times, to Averetts 23, converting on 25 of them for a team average 71.4%. While the Cougars only made 11 for a team average of 47.8%
• Averett shot 27.8% from behind the arc to Methodist's 17.6%

UP NEXT

• Methodist is on the road this week as they compete Wednesday at 6pm in a USA South contest versus Greensboro College.
• Averett is also on the road as they travel to William Peace University on Wednesday for a 6pm tip-off.