FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. Methodist women's basketball faced off with a familiar foe in Averett University, on Friday evening, in a non-conference game. A close contest for three quarters before the Monarchs pulled away, 65-43, for the win over the Cougars in the March F. Riddle Center.
JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Methodist def. Averett, 65-43
Records: Methodist 7-2, Averett 2-10
Location: March F. Riddle Center; Fayetteville, North Carolina
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Though Methodist took an early advantage, Averett responded quickly on two consecutive possessions and took the lead for the first time. An 8-0 run by the Monarchs would put them back up by six, 13-7. The final two and half minutes of the quarter saw the Cougars score seven unanswered points to edge out Methodist 14-13 at the end of the first.
- A three by Taylor Ray put Averett back in front and a bucket by Talia Prosper gave them a five-point lead, 20-15. Six straight points by Aniyah Tate closed that small advantage but a free throw by Elisa Harris tied the ball game at 21-21. Afterwards the teams went back-and-forth with the scoring but the Monarchs were able to get a few more points down the stretch to take a 32-26 lead into halftime.
- In the third frame, Prosper, of the Cougars, stole the ball for a fastbreak layup and was fouled on the play. She converted the and-one to bring the Methodist lead down to three, 34-31. The next five Monarch points came from the free throw line but Averett registered five quick points themselves to keep them within striking distance, 39-36.
- With 1:13 left in the third, Methodist started a scoring run that began at the of the current period and extend it into the fourth. The Monarch all of sudden went from a close game to now leading by 16-points, 54-38. An additional 11-0 run by Methodist put the contest out of reach for the Cougars.
MORE TO IT
- The Monarchs had a few great performances tonight by their player. Tate led all scorers with 17 points, on 8 of 11 (.727) field goals. While Kiley Hicks (11 pts & 12 rebounds) and Jessica Drake (11 pts & 11 rebs) each had a double-double.
- Methodist forced a good amount of Averett turnovers, while converting those into points. The Cougars committed 29 turns and the Monarchs generated 32 points from them.
- Methodist had a season-high eight blocks as a team in the game, with Hicks tallying a new career-high four.
UP NEXT
Methodist will have some time off for the upcoming holidays before preparing for a December 30 road contest against Guilford College. Game is scheduled for 12:30 in the afternoon.