FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.  In the team's annual Play4Kay game, Methodist University women's basketball hosted USA South Athletic Conference leader Southern Virginia University inside the March F. Riddle Center on Saturday afternoon. The game tied up 29–29 at halftime, but a strong rebounding performance in the second half aided the Knights in their 56–45 win over the Monarchs.

JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Southern Virginia def. Methodist, 56–45
Records: Methodist 14–9 (9–5 USA South), Southern Virginia 21–2 (14–0)
Location: March F. Riddle Center; Fayetteville, North Carolina

HOW IT HAPPENED

• A steal by Kiley Hicks led to a Melissa D'Oleo layup for the first points of the contest and a Methodist lead, until Southern Virginia scored the next seven consecutive points. The two teams then swapped points for the next several minutes before a layup by the Monarchs' Hannah Evans made the game a three-point, 15–12, affair. During the last two minutes of the opening quarter, the Knights pushed advantage to double digits, 22–12, as Camilla Norton made a three-pointer followed by Ruth Kempler and Hailey Paige each making two free throws.
• Methodist heated up from the field at the start of the second quarter, making four of its first five shots to cut the deficit to four points, 25–21. After another Southern Virginia free throw, the Monarchs closed out the scoring with a 7–3 run to tie the game. Neither team recorded another point in the last two and a half minutes of the first half.
• At the start of the third quarter, the Knights demonstrated their desire to win the game. Southern Virginia not only scored the first 11 points after the restart but also out-rebounded Methodist 16 to four, including 10 offensive and six defensive rebounds, within the first seven minutes of play. Eva McRae, who came off the bench, ended the Monarchs' scoring drought with a three-pointer, which sparked a 9-3 run for Methodist, closing the gap on the scoreboard to 43–38.
• A quick five points from Giavonna Dunlap (2) and Kayleen Grullon (3) of the Monarchs evened up the score at 43–43 with 8:29 left to play in the fourth quarter. Even with the early momentum boost from Methodist, the Knights put the game back in their favor, as they scored eight straight points to go back up 51–43. After Grullon's bucket, the Monarchs did not register another basket until the 3:13 mark, with Jillian Peterson making a jumper. That would also be the final Methodist points of the game.

MORE TO IT

• For the second time this season, Peterson was the Monarchs' leading scorer against Southern Virginia. She led the team tonight with 11 points and is averaging 13.5 points in two games against the Knights.
• Even with Methodist having two more turnovers than Southern Virginia, 21 to 19, the Monarchs scored ten more points, 21 to 11, off the mistakes.
• The battle of the glass was won by the Knights. They out-rebounded Methodist 44 to 31, including a 26 to 11 difference in the second half.   

UP NEXT
Methodist plays its last two games of the regular season on the road, starting with a trip to Meredith College on Tuesday, February 18. The contest is scheduled to tip-off at 6 PM.