BUENA VISTA, Va.  In the semifinals of the 2025 USA South Women's Basketball Tournament, fourth-seeded Methodist University traveled to Southern Virginia University, the number one seed, on Thursday evening. The Monarchs kept pace with the Knights for two and a half quarters, but ultimately lost 69–50, putting a close to Methodist's 2024-25 season.   

JUST THE FACTS
Final score: No. 1 Southern Virginia def. No. 4 Methodist, 69–50
Records: Methodist 17–10, Southern Virginia 25–2
Location: Knights Arena; Buena Vista, Virginia

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Abigail Snyder (4) and Maria Savvun (3) accounted for the first seven points of the ballgame, giving Southern Virginia the early lead, but then Methodist scored the next six to make it a one-point contest, 7–6. Another small run by the Knights put them up by six, until seniors Rebecca McGaughnea, Serenity Webb, and Melissa D'Oleo of the Monarchs each made a layup to tie the game at 15–15.
• With the score tied at 19–19, Southern Virginia recorded six straight points to begin the second quarter. From there, both teams struggled to score from the field but a pair of baskets by McGaughnea, along with a bucket from Kiley Hicks, allowed Methodist to even the scoreboard at 27–27. Within the last minute before halftime, the Knights got a big momentum boost from Camilla Norton, who drained a three-pointer to help her team take a 34–30 lead.
• Out of the break, Jillian Peterson (4) and Hicks (2) scored a combined six points for the Monarchs to keep their team within striking distance of the lead, 42–36. Southern Virginia had other plans, though, as the team caught fire and made five of its next eight shots, stretching the lead to 54–38.
• The game didn't get easier for Methodist as the Knights started the fourth quarter on a 10-2 run, making the score a 22-point difference, 64–42. The final two and a half minutes saw the Monarchs outscore Southern Virginia 8-5 to close the gap a little in an already determined contest.

MORE TO IT

• Peterson and Webb led the way for Methodist, as they both scored nine points in their final collegiate games. Right behind them was McGaughnea, who chipped in eight points.
• With two assists today, senior Aneesa Irizarry recorded 100+ assists in back-to-back seasons. For her career, she has dished out 341 assists, eighth-most dimes in MU women's basketball history. Joining Irizarry in the top ten is classmate D'Oleo, who is ninth with 278 assists.
• D'Oleo was the iron-"wo" man of this year's senior class, as she did not miss one game in her collegiate career. She played in 104 career games, which includes starting the last 54.