Skip To Main Content

Methodist University Athletics

The Official Athletics Site of The Methodist University monarchs Methodist University monarchs
Melissa D'Oleo moments before driving past her defender
57
Winner N.C. Wesleyan NCWU 16-11
49
Methodist MUWBK 21-6
Winner
N.C. Wesleyan NCWU
16-11
57
Final
49
Methodist MUWBK
21-6
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
N.C. Wesleyan NCWU 9 13 16 19 57
Methodist MUWBK 9 18 10 12 49

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | Michael Spratt

Methodist Sees USA South Tournament Run Come to an End in the Semifinals

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.  On Thursday, February 22, Methodist University women's basketball, the No. 2 seed, squared off with third seeded North Carolina Wesleyan University in the semifinals of the 2024 USA South Women's Basketball Tournament. Even though the Monarchs had a five-point lead into halftime it was the Battling Bishops that prevailed and walked away with a 57-49 victory.

JUST THE FACTS
Final score: N.C. Wesleyan def. Methodist, 57-49
Records: Methodist 21-6, N.C. Wesleyan 16-11
Location: March F. Riddle Center; Fayetteville, North Carolina

HOW IT HAPPENED
  • Early layups by Jehari Jacobs and Aniyah Tate put Methodist in front until a triple by N.C. Wesleyan sparked a 7-0 run to give the Battling Bishops a 9-4 edge. Both teams struggled to score a basket for the remainder of the first quarter but the Monarchs were still able to tally five more points, a layup by Tate & a three by Serenity Webb, to tie the game at 9-9.
  • The two teams would go point-for-point for the first few minutes of the second frame, with Aneesa Irizarry registering all of the points for Methodist. An N.C. Wesleyan three-pointer tipped the momentum toward the Battling Bishops, for a brief amount of time, before two consecutive buckets by Tate gave the Monarchs the lead once again, 19-16. With a little under three minutes left until the half, another N.C. Wesleyan triple, third of the ballgame, knotted up the scoreboard but that did not stop Methodist guards Melissa D'Oleo and Irizarry from outscoring the Battling Bishops, 6-1, to send the home Monarchs into the locker room up 27-22.
  • Out of the break, N.C. Wesleyan went on a 9-3 run and took a 31-30 lead to begin the third stanza. Jumpers by Jessica Drake and Webb allowed Methodist to have a slight advantage, 36-35, again but some Battling Bishops free throws at the end of third gave them a one-point edge heading into the final frame.
  • D'Oleo scored the opening points of fourth quarter, which tipped the scale in the Monarchs favor, but then N.C. Wesleyan scored the next seven points to take a 45-39 lead. Midway through the fourth, the Battling Bishops had an eight-point advantage, 48-40, until a three-pointer by D'Oleo capped off a 7-2 Methodist run to bring the deficit down to three, 50-47, with 2:30 left in the game. Unfortunately, the Monarchs were unable to put together one last run before the clock ran out on them.
MORE TO IT
  • N.C. Wesleyan commanded the rebound battle with the Battling Bishops out rebounding Methodist 59 to 42. N.C. Wesleyan's Kayrisma Harrison, the 2024 USA South Defensive Player of the Year, asserted her dominance on the glass by coming down with 20 boards, a game-high.
  • The Monarchs had three players to finish with double points, D'Oleo (13), Tate (11), & Irizarry (10).
  • Tonight official closes out the career of Tate but not before taking down one more record. With her first made field of the game, Tate broke her tie with Methodist alum Teresa McMillian for the most field goals in a single-season. The previous record of 179 was set by McMillian following the 1994-95 season but now Tate owns it after registering 184 FGs during the 2023-24 season.
UP NEXT
This concludes the 2023-24 season for the Monarchs.
    
Print Friendly Version