ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. Opening the season at the Jean Edge Classic, the Methodist women's basketball team was outscored by Maryville College, 47-43. On a day in which both teams were offensively held at bay, Junior
Kiley Hicks scored a game-high 16 points, but the Monarchs were unable to come away with a win.
JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Maryville def. Methodist, 47-43
Records: Methodist 0-1, Maryville 1-0
Location: Everett Gymnasium; Rocky Mount, N.C.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Methodist scored the first basket of the game – a layup by Kiley Hicks, who helped propel the Monarchs to an 8-2 lead after a second successful layup that came just two minutes into the contest. After conceding four points, scores by Joslyn Ayers and Aneesa Irizarry once again gave Methodist a six-point edge with 2:40 remaining in the quarter. Unable to score anymore themselves, the Monarchs gave up two more layups, but still won the first quarter 12-10.
- Maryville was first to score in the second quarter, sinking a two-point shot and successfully making the ensuing free throw after the Monarchs committed a foul on the made basket. Methodist quickly retook the lead after Serenity Webb knocked down the first three-pointer of the game. With 7:18 to play in the period, Hicks was fouled and subsequently made two shots from the charity stripe. Maryville sank a three-pointer on the next possession, and Hicks answered on the other end of the court with a quick layup. The Monarchs led by three before the Scots sank another shot from behind the arc, tying the game at 19-19 with four and a half minutes left until halftime. After another bucket by Hicks, Maryville finished with a 7-0 run to take a 26-21 advantage into the break.
- The Monarchs opened the second half with a 10-2 run, allowing Maryville just two points off of four free throw attempts and one unsuccessful shot from the floor in the first four minutes. Over the next four and a half minutes, the Scots held Methodist scoreless, answering with a 7-0 run (their second of the game) to retake the lead, now 35-31 with 1:47 left in the period. Hicks drained two free throws, but Maryville's three-pointer on the other end put the Scots up by five. With two trips to the line, Methodist's Arriana White and Irizarry both went 1-for-2 to make the score 38-35 heading into the final quarter.
- Rebecca McGaughnea scored the first bucket of the fourth quarter less than 15 seconds in. From there, the Monarchs were again held scoreless for the next four and a half minutes, while holding Maryville to just three points. With her team down by four, Jessica Drake made a two-point jumper to make the score 41-39 with just over four minutes to go. The Scots responded with two points of their own on the following possession. At the two-minute mark, White sank a jumper to pull the Monarchs back within two again, but once more, Maryville answered on its next trip down the court. Methodist sent the Scots to the free throw line, which led to two more points for Maryville before Ayers scored a final basket for the Monarchs to reduce the final deficit to four points.
MORE TO IT
- Both teams struggled offensively as Methodist shot 34% from the field and Maryville shot 33.3% as a team. The Monarchs were held to just one three pointer, while the Scots drained four on 18 tries.
- Veteran center Rebecca McGaughnea picked up three fouls in the first half and a fourth early in the third quarter, limiting the Monarchs down low.
- Methodist won the turnover war, coughing up the ball 15 times compared to Maryville's 22 turnovers. The Scots out-rebounded the Monarchs 38-30.
UP NEXT
The Monarchs face Averett on Sunday in their second game of the Jean Edge Classic. Tipoff is scheduled for 5 p.m.
