CHARLOTTE, N.C.  Methodist University women's basketball was on the road Wednesday, January 10, afternoon in a non-conference contest with Johnson & Wales University of Charlotte. The Monarchs fought hard and was able to stay within one-point through three quarters but the Wildcats utilized a strong fourth to pull away late and claimed a 63-49 victory.

JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Johnson & Wales def. Methodist, 63-49
Records: Methodist 8-5, Johnson & Wales 11-2
Location: JWU Wildcat Center; Charlotte, North Carolina

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Back-to-back baskets by Rebecca McGaughnea gave Methodist a four-point edge over Johnson & Wales at the seven minute mark of the opening frame. The teams then went back & forth exchanging points throughout the first. By the time the quarter came to an end the Monarchs found themselves up 14-12, after the Wildcats registered four points in the last 45 seconds.
• A pair of free throws by Aniyah Tate added two more points to Methodist's total to begin the second period but an 8-0 run put Johnson & Wales in front 20-16. After the Wildcats increased their advantage to eight points, the duo of Kiley Hicks and Jessica Drake recorded the next seven points to get the Monarchs within one, 26-25. Tate made the last two baskets of the first half for Methodist to keep it a one-point game heading into the locker room.
• Midway through the third quarter, Melissa D'Oleo helped get the Monarchs the lead, 39-33, once again after making two three-pointers. Methodist maintained its slight advantage over the course of the next four minutes until two consecutive buckets by Johnson & Wales capped off a 9-0 run, to put the home team up by three. The Monarchs went in front by one-point, 43-42, thanks to McGaughnea and Drake tallying two points each but a couple of free throws by the Wildcats gave them the edge heading into the fourth.
• Johnson & Wales started the final quarter by scoring the first six points but Methodist was able to get four of those points back with baskets by Joslyn Ayers and Tate. With a little seven minutes left, Methodist went on a six-minute scoring drought while the Wildcats recorded 12 unanswered points to close out the contest.

MORE TO IT

• Tate fueled the Monarchs with 14 points and nine rebounds, both team-highs. McGaughnea was not far behind with an eight and eight performance.
• Johnson & Wales recorded ten more steals than Methodist, which includes five players with two or more thefts. Serenity Webb led the Monarchs with three steals herself.
• Both sides shot fairly even through the first three quarters of play. In the fourth though, the Wildcats shot 53% (8 of 15) to help secure their win while Methodist made three of its last 12 shots (25%).

UP NEXT
Methodist returns to USA South league play on Saturday, January 13, with a road trip to Meredith College. Tip-Off is scheduled for 2 PM.