ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. Methodist women's basketball team was on the road this evening to take on host North Carolina Wesleyan University. A clash between two USA South Athletic Conference foes resulted in the Battling Bishops getting the win, 67-56, over the Monarchs on their home court of Everett Gymnasium.
JUST THE FACTS
Final score: N.C. Wesleyan def. Methodist, 67-56
Records: Methodist 12-7 (7-5 USA South), N.C. Wesleyan 13-6 (9-3)
Location: Everett Gymnasium; Rocky Mount, North Carolina
HOW IT HAPPENED
- N.C. Wesleyan held an early 6-2 advantage over Methodist before the Monarchs scored the next five points, which included a three by Melissa D'Oleo, to put them up 7-6. The Battling Bishops regained the lead again following a 9-0 run but Methodist would only be down by four, 15-11, after a couple of made baskets by Aneesa Irizarry and Hannah Evans at the end of the first quarter.
- A couple of buckets by Johnay Goddard and a three by Areina Harris gave N.C. Wesleyan its first double digit lead of the ball game, 25-14. The Monarchs were able to utilize some three-pointers from Jillian Peterson and Emmenia Lynch, in an 8-0 run, to get back within four points. By the halftime buzzer, the Battling Bishops took a 32-26 lead into the locker room.
- Within the first two minutes of the third period, Methodist registered the first six points as Peterson scored four of them to tie up the game. Nadia Simmons recorded two consecutive baskets for the first N.C. Wesleyan points of the second half, 36-32, and the lead once more. Following a few made free throws by Destiney Bell of the Battling Bishops, the teams went back-and-forth exchanging points until N.C. Wesleyan had a 46-43 advantage, heading into the final stanza.
- The Battling Bishops began the fourth by going to the charity stripe six times and made five of those shots to increase their lead, 51-43. Aniyah Tate and Kiley Hicks combined for the next six Monarch points to keep the deficit within two possessions, 54-49, but N.C. Wesleyan tallied the next five points. This forced Methodist to foul and send the Battling Bishops to the free throw line, where they would ice the game away.
MORE TO IT
- Leading all scorers with 18 points was Tate from the Monarchs. N.C. Wesleyan did get a double-double effort from Simmons with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
- The Battling Bishops took advantage of a foul happy Methodist squad, as N.C. Wesleyan went to the stripe a total of 32 times and knocked down 24 of them. The Monarchs only took nine free throw attempts, while making five.
- The battle of the glass favored the Battling Bishops. They were able to grab 50 rebounds, including 26 on the offensive side, while Methodist coming down with 34 boards.
UP NEXT
Methodist only have a couple of days before traveling to Mary Baldwin University on Friday. This USA South bout is set to begin at 6 p.m.