FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. Methodist women's basketball experienced a tough USA South Athletic Conference loss on Tuesday evening against North Carolina Wesleyan College, 63-60, in the March F. Riddle Center.
JUST THE FACTS
Final score: N.C. Wesleyan def. Methodist, 63-60
Records: Methodist 10-9 (8-5 USA South), N.C. Wesleyan 11-9 (9-4)
Location: March F. Riddle Center; Fayetteville, North Carolina
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Both teams shot tic for tac in the first quarter, as the Monarchs kept a steady lead by a basket or two. Hannah Evans three-pointer put Methodist ahead by five with just under three minutes to go, to make it 13-9. An offensive rebound by Aniyah Tate for a put back basket with a foul sent her to the line for one with four seconds left in the frame. Tate's added free throw put the Monarchs up 16-11.
- Methodist jumped out of the gate by starting on a 5-0 run to push their lead to a ten-point difference. Later in the second, the Battling Bishops knocked down shots in the final three minutes, closing the gap to four to make it 28-24 going into the second half.
- Jillian Peterson started the third quarter from three-point range, tallying the first three points off the jump. N.C. Wesleyan tied the game at 38 all after Deonna Adams of the Battling Bishops hit a three, but the Monarchs kept pushing and went on a 6-0 run. Zykeria Jenkins' last second three-pointer gave Methodist the lead going into the fourth quarter, 49-47.
- The first possession of the final frame opened with a made lay-up from N.C. Wesleyan to tie the game 49-49. The Monarchs went on a five-point push, and advanced the lead to seven with just over three minutes to go in the fourth. The Battling Bishops fought back, knocking down four free throws with a minute left in play. Tied up 60 all with 45 seconds left, Methodist called a timeout to advance the ball to the front court. The Monarchs unable to convert a bucket, turned the ball over to N.C. Wesleyan. Nyesha Best of the Battling Bishops found her sister Myesha Best on the wing for a knock down three to give N.C. Wesleyan the lead 63-60 with 13 seconds left. Methodist used the team's final timeout for a last second shot but ran out of time.
MORE TO IT
- Aneesa Irizarry had a game-high 17 points and four assists.
- The Battling Bishops tallied 48 total rebounds, 19 of which were offensive to the Monarchs 35, with eight offensive boards.
- N.C. Wesleyan converted 23 points off turnovers, 12 more points than the Monarchs 11 points off turnovers.
UP NEXT
- Methodist will travel to Misenheimer, N.C. on Saturday for a USA South game against Pfeiffer University at 2 p.m.
- N.C. Wesleyan heads to Greensboro, N.C. on Saturday to play Greensboro College in a USA South matchup at 2 p.m.