GREENSBORO, N.C. With a 79-45 win over Greensboro College on Tuesday, the Methodist women's basketball team extended its win streak to three games and improved to 3-1 versus USA South opponents. The 34-point triumph is the largest margin of victory for the Monarchs so far this season.

JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Methodist def. Greensboro, 79-45
Records: Methodist 4-2 (3-1 USA South), Greensboro 0-7 (0-1)
Location: Hanes Gymnasium; Greensboro, N.C.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Shooting just 5-for-22 from the field in the first quarter, Methodist struggled to separate from Greensboro. Kiley Hicks made a jumper that gave the Monarchs a 4-2 edge, but Greensboro answered with a bucket of its own along with a pair of free throws. Methodist evened the score at 6-6 and 8-8 but couldn't regain the lead.
• The second quarter proved to be much more offensively efficient for Methodist. Trailing 12-10, the Monarchs scored the first three baskets of the period to take a four-point lead. The Pride responded with a layup, but Methodist went on another 6-0 run, this time with scores by Aniyah Tate, Rebecca McGaughnea and Melissa D'Oleo. Up eight points halfway through the second quarter, the Monarchs conceded another two-point basket to Greensboro before going on a third six-point run (pieced together by the same trio as the previous run), making the score 28-16. Methodist outscored Greensboro 6-4 over the final three minutes to improve its advantage to 14 points.
• The teams played tight to start the third quarter, exchanging six points each over the first three and a half minutes. With under four minutes remaining in the period, Methodist had captured a 17-point advantage. From there the Monarchs went on an 11-0 run, capped off with a three-pointer by Arriana White – the team's first triple of the night. Aneesa Irizarry sank the team's second bucket from behind the arc just before the buzzer sounded to end the third period, giving Methodist a 58-30 lead entering the final frame.
• After the teams traded a free throw each, White and Alana Jones buried back-to-back threes to put the Monarchs in front by 34 points. Methodist led by as many as 35, but the Pride erased one point off the difference before the end of the game. Alyssa Shazer sank Methodist's fifth and final triple of the night with under ten seconds to go, giving the Monarchs the 79-45 victory.

MORE TO IT

• Rebecca McGaughnea scored a career-high 12 points, including six in the second quarter that helped the Monarchs establish momentum. She also collected four rebounds and one block.
• With team highs of 19 points and 15 rebounds, Aniyah Tate recorded her second double-double of the season and the eleventh of her career.
• Freshman Arriana White scored 14 points (shooting 6-of-8 from the field) with 4 rebounds in just 13 minutes of action.

UP NEXT
After four games in twelve days, the Monarchs are set to get some time to rest before traveling to Virginia to face Ferrum College on Saturday, Dec. 9. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.