FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.  After playing the night before, Methodist University women's basketball and Greensboro College squared off against one another once more on Saturday afternoon, and this time around, the Monarchs had a far better gameplan as they took down the Pride 64–32 in the March F. Riddle Center.
 
Before the contest, Methodist honored its eight seniors in a pre-game ceremony.

JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Methodist def. Greensboro, 64–32
Records: Methodist 13–8 (8–4 USA South), Greensboro 4–15 (2–10)
Location: March F. Riddle Center; Fayetteville, North Carolina

HOW IT HAPPENED

• After the game raced out to a 5-5 score, Methodist recorded the next ten points, six of which were scored by senior Kiley Hicks, to take a 15-5 lead. A Nataya Atwater three-pointer briefly brought the Pride back to within eight until Monarch senior Alyssa Shazer started to get hot from behind the arc and connected on a pair of triples.
• Shazer continued with her scoring output to begin the second quarter as she registered the first five points for Methodist, including a third three-pointer. Joining in on the Monarchs' three-point parade was fellow senior Jillian Peterson, pushing the Methodist lead to 31-13. Following an exchange of points, Greensboro ended the period on a 6-0 run and trimmed the deficit down to 12 points, 35-23, heading into the locker room.
• At the start of the third quarter, the Monarchs scored six consecutive points –– four by Hicks and two by Serenity Webb –– to go up by 18 points. Midway through the third, a pair of free throws by Taya Phelps dropped the score to a 15-point difference, but those would also be the last points of the period for the Pride. Meanwhile, Methodist increased its lead by eight as the Monarchs went on an 8-0 run to end the third, including Kayleen Grullon registering three straight layups.
• Methodist finished off the contest by outscoring Greensboro 13-4 in the fourth quarter. All 13 points were recorded by the next up-and-coming Monarchs, including freshmen Destiny Richardson and Eva McRae, who combined for ten points, respectively, six and four.

MORE TO IT

• Leading the charge for Methodist were seniors Hicks (12 points, seven rebounds, three steals) and Shazer (11 points, three rebounds, and a steal). Not far behind them was Grullon with ten points, four steals, and three rebounds.
• Seniors Aneesa Irizarry and Hannah Evans were dropping dimes all over the court as they combined for 14 of the 16 team assists, with Irizarry registering eight (game-high) while Evans contributed six (career-high).
• The Monarchs also had a season-high 20 steals tonight. Six of the thefts were by senior Melissa D'Oleo, matching a career high.

UP NEXT
For the first time this season, Methodist will face USA South foe William Peace University at home on Wednesday, February 12. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 PM.