ROCKY MOUNT, N.C.  Methodist University women's basketball made the trip out to North Carolina Wesleyan University on Wednesday night for a USA South Athletic Conference clash. The Monarchs were in control for most of the contest before a fourth-quarter comeback by the Battling Bishops gave them a 63-58 victory.

JUST THE FACTS
Final score: N.C. Wesleyan def. Methodist, 63–58
Records: Methodist 8–7 (4–3 USA South), N.C. Wesleyan 8–6 (5–2)
Location: Everett Gymnasium; Rocky Mount, North Carolina

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Methodist got the game going with Alyssa Shazer knocking down a three-pointer, which kept the Monarchs in front after four minutes of game action as each side recorded five point apiece during that time to make it 8-5. That would also be all of the points the Battling Bishops could score in the opening quarter, while the Monarchs added 11 more to give them a 19-5 advantage to begin the second period.
• A jumper by Tori Coleman in the early stages of the quarter increased the Methodist lead to 16-points, 21-5, but then, N.C. Wesleyan went on an 11-0 run to get itself back into the contest, cutting the deficit down to five. After being held to no points for three minutes, Rebecca McGaughnea registered her first basket for the Monarchs to end the scoring drought. The teams then exchanged buckets over the course of the next four and a half minutes before Coleman made another jumper to spark a 6-0 Methodist run to end the first half. The made shots by Coleman, Shazer, and Korrin Gladden extended the Monarchs lead to 33-22.
• Methodist began the third frame on a 7-4 run to push its advantage to a 14-point difference, 40-26, until eight unanswered points brought the Battling Bishops to within two possessions. N.C. Wesleyan got the better of the Monarchs during the remaining time of the quarter as the home team slightly outscored the visitors 5-4, giving Methodist a five-point edge, 44-39, heading into the final period.
• With a 7-2 run at the start of the fourth quarter, the Battling Bishops tied the game up for the first time at 46-46. McGaughnea briefly put the Monarchs up by two again until N.C. Wesleyan scored four straight points to go up 50-48, for its first lead of the night, with about five minutes left on the clock. Eventually, Methodist would tie up the scoreboard at 56-56, following a triple by Coleman, but the Battling Bishops then closed out the game on a 7-2 run to seal their come from behind win.

MORE TO IT

• The Monarchs scoring was spread out as ten different players registered four or more points in the contest. Leading all Methodist scorers was Melissa D'Oleo with nine points.
• Points off turnovers and free throws was a major difference in the game. N.C. Wesleyan generated 20 points off the 22 Monarch turnovers, and the Battling Bishops added an additional 20 points to their total from the charity stripe. Methodist was only able to record six points off turns & at the line.

UP NEXT
Methodist returns to the March F. Riddle Center for its next game on Saturday, January 18, as the Monarchs host the Wildcats of Johnson & Wales University. This will also be the annual Parent's Day Game for Methodist women's basketball. Tip-off is scheduled for 4 PM.