RALEIGH, N.C.  Looking to bounce back after a loss against the top team in the league, the Methodist women's basketball team got back in the win column on Tuesday night with an 18–point victory at Meredith College. The Monarchs cleaned up on the glass, collecting 44 rebounds to the Avenging Angels' 24.

JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Methodist def. Meredith, 53–35
Records: Methodist 15–9 (10–5 USA So.), Meredith 7–16 (5–11 USA So.)
Location: Weatherspoon Gym; Raleigh, North Carolina

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The first quarter was a toss–up as the teams traded baskets, drawing even with each other four times. Arriana White canned the first three–pointer of the game to put the Monarchs up 10–8, but a pair of free throws by the Avenging Angels tied the score heading into the second quarter.
• Methodist trailed 16–15 with seven and a half minutes left in the period when a Kiley Hicks layup ignited a 13–point run for the Monarchs that would carry them all the way to the end of the half. Jillian Peterson and Hannah Evans each knocked down a shot from behind the arc during that span, pacing their team to a 28–16 halftime advantage.
• The scoring run continued in the third quarter with the first eight points favoring the Monarchs. Peterson and Serenity Webb hit back–to–back threes to begin the half, before a two–point jumper by Peterson put Methodist ahead 35–16. With the last basket of the quarter, Eva McRae extended Methodist's lead to 20 points.
• McRae also recorded the first bucket of the fourth quarter, pushing her team to a game–high 22–point advantage, which proved to be enough to allow the Monarchs to coast to victory.  

MORE TO IT

• 12 different Monarchs scored, with Peterson, Hicks and Kayleen Grullon all totaling a team–high eight points.
• Aneesa Irizarry led the way on the glass with 10 boards, matching her career high. Evans also achieved a career high in rebounds, collecting eight.
• The Monarchs won despite their mediocre shooting statistics, finishing the night 30.9% from the field (21–68), 25% from deep (6–24), and just 35.7% at the charity stripe (5–14).
• Methodist has now achieved double–digit wins versus USA South opponents in three of the last four seasons. 

UP NEXT
Methodist has one game remaining in the regular season, which will take place on Saturday when the Monarchs travel to William Peace University for a 4 p.m. tipoff. Click here for an updated look at the USA South standings. After all regular season games conclude, the top four teams will play host to seeds 5–8 on Tuesday, Feb. 25 during the first round of the USA South Tournament.