RALEIGH, N.C. Reaching 100 points for the first time since November of 2022, the Methodist women's basketball team collected a 26-point victory over the Pacers of William Peace University on Wednesday. Led by
Aniyah Tate's 24-point performance, the Monarchs saw 12 different players score and collectively shot 58.3% from the field.
JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Methodist def. William Peace, 100-74
Records: Methodist 7-4 (4-1 USA South), William Peace 3-8 (1-4)
Location: Hermann Athletic Center; Raleigh, North Carolina
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Aniyah Tate got the Monarchs going with the first four points of the contest, which were followed by a Jessica Drake three-pointer that put Methodist ahead 7-0. While William Peace's Tanaesha Ellison scored her team's first seven points of the night, the Monarchs surged ahead, taking a 17-7 lead. Jillian Peterson's triple with 2:55 remaining in the first quarter extended Methodist's lead to 11 points, with the team now up 20-9. In the final seconds of the period, Tate knocked down a jumper to put the Monarchs up 26-16.
- Scoring three of Methodist's first four baskets to begin the second quarter, Kiley Hicks helped the Monarchs gain a 34-20 advantage over the Pacers with just over seven minutes left in the half. A 12-6 run in favor of William Peace brought the score to 40-32, but the Monarchs took the next 11 straight, widening the gap to 19 points (51-32) with a minute and a half remaining in the quarter. Tate scored the final four points of the half for Methodist, while Ellison earned all seven of the Pacers' final points.
- The Pacers cut their deficit to 11 points early in the second half, hitting a pair of shots from behind the arc. The Monarchs quickly answered with a 12-2 run in which Tate accounted for 10 points alone. Leading 70-49, Methodist didn't let up, outscoring the home team 14-4 over the final four minutes of the third quarter.
- Methodist held William Peace scoreless for more than three and a half minutes to begin the fourth quarter, while the Monarchs took a 91-53 advantage. With a comfortable lead, the only thing left for Methodist to do was hit the century mark, which Hicks was able to accomplish by scoring a layup on the team's final possession.
MORE TO IT
- Kiley Hicks was Methodist's second leading scorer with 17 points while also securing a team-high six rebounds.
- Melissa D'Oleo did an excellent job distributing the ball, recording five assists with no turnovers. The Monarchs tallied 25 assists as a team, led by Aneesa Irizarry, who recorded six.
- Methodist held a 40 point lead over the Pacers (95-55) in the fourth quarter before relaxing defensively.
UP NEXT
Methodist returns to Fayetteville where the Monarchs will host Brevard College on Saturday at 2 p.m.