FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. Riding a three-game win streak into Wednesday night's contest, the Methodist women's basketball team came up short in its first meeting with North Carolina Wesleyan University this season, falling by 12 points at home. The Monarchs finished with four players scoring in double figures but allowed the Battling Bishops to score a costly 39 points off turnovers.
JUST THE FACTS
Final score: North Carolina Wesleyan def. Methodist, 69–57
Records: Methodist 8–11 (7–5 USA South), North Carolina Wesleyan 9–8 (7–4 USA South)
Location: March F. Riddle Center; Fayetteville, N.C.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The first quarter unfurled as most would expect in a matchup between two teams neck and neck in the conference standings: a back-and-forth battle with both teams trading blows. The Monarchs scored six of the first seven points before the Battling Bishops knotted things up at 6–6, then continued their run by taking a 10–6 lead. Harmony Martin knocked down her second three-pointer of the night inside the final two minutes, but
Jehari Jacobs scored the final basket of the period to pull Methodist back within four points of the visitors (14–10).
It was a less favorable second quarter for the Monarchs, with turnovers leading to 13 points by the Battling Bishops. In total Methodist was outscored 22–8 in the period, putting North Carolina Wesleyan up by 18 at halftime.
Methodist cut down on turnovers in the third, committing just seven, and went 6-for-12 on shots from the field. However, the Battling Bishops matched the Monarchs with six made baskets of their own (on 21 attempts) using eight offensive rebounds to their advantage. Little ground was made up heading into the fourth.
With under five minutes left in the contest, the Monarchs began what became a 16–3 run, shooting 5-for-9 from the floor and 6-for-7 at the free-throw line while reaping the reward of four North Carolina Wesleyan turnovers.
Kayleen Grullon led the way for Methodist with eight points during the run, making the score 63–55 with about a minute to play, but the Monarchs simply ran out of time.
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
Taylor Watford and
Eva McRae each tallied 11 points, while Grullon and
Korin Gladden both scores 10.
Jada Richardson led the way on the glass with 11 rebounds.
Methodist shot 36% from the field and 70% at the free-throw line, which was more efficient than North Carolina Wesleyan was in either category. Turnovers were the deciding factor, with Methodist coughing the ball up 36 total times — twice as many times as North Carolina Wesleyan (18).
UP NEXT
Methodist is scheduled to travel to Greensboro College on Saturday for a 2 p.m. tipoff with the Pride.
