FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. Less than 24 hours after taking the court, the Methodist women's basketball team bounced back in a big way on Saturday afternoon, defeating Mary Baldwin University 60–41 inside the March F. Riddle Center in USA South Athletic Conference play.
JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Methodist def. Mary Baldwin, 60–41
Records: Methodist 2–3 (1–1 USA South), Mary Baldwin 1–4 (1–1 USA South)
Location: March F. Riddle Center; Fayetteville, North Carolina
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Methodist got off to a slow offensive start, falling behind 6–2, but a 6–0 run quickly swung momentum and gave the Monarchs their first lead. The Fighting Squirrels tied the game at 10–10 before sophomore Korin Gladden closed the quarter with four straight points, putting MU in front 14–10.
- Early in the second quarter, an 8–4 burst—led by junior Nyleiah White with four points—extended the lead to 22–14. Mary Baldwin answered with a pair of three-pointers to pull within two, but a late layup from freshman Taylor Watford sent the Monarchs into halftime up 24–20.
- Methodist seized full control in the third. Gladden and Watford combined for eight points during a decisive 12–0 run that pushed the advantage to 36–20. The Monarchs continued to pour it on, outscoring Mary Baldwin 26–7 in the period, highlighted by Jada Richardson's four points and strong interior play. MU led 50–27 heading into the fourth.
- A couple of layups from Watford and Richardson stretched the lead to 27—the Monarchs' largest of the game—as Methodist cruised through the final minutes to secure its first conference win.
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
- Gladden delivered the best performance of her Methodist career, scoring a personal-best 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting, while adding five rebounds, two assists, two blocks, and two steals.
- Richardson recorded her first career double-double with 10 points and 14 rebounds, both career-highs.
- Watford posted her strongest outing as a freshman: 12 points, 8 rebounds, and a team-high 4 steals.
- Methodist dominated the interior with 46 paint points and controlled the boards with 49 rebounds, for the second straight day.
UP NEXT
The Monarchs hit the road for a four-game stretch, beginning Friday, December 5, at Johnson & Wales–Charlotte. Tipoff is set for 5 PM.
