february 4, 2006
Final-minute rally gives Lady Monarchs thrilling 72-69 victory at Ferrum
Williams scores career-high 20 points in Methodist victory

FERRUM, Va. – Late-game heroics are starting to become the norm for the Methodist Lady Monarchs as the stretch run approaches in the USA South Athletic Conference. Saturday afternoon was no different as Methodist scored six points in the final minute of the game and came away with a thrilling 72-69 victory at Ferrum.

The victory improves the Lady Monarchs to 10-9 overall and 5-4 in the USA South. The Lady Monarchs sweep the season series from Ferrum.

Methodist trailed for much of the second half, and the Panthers led by as much as eight points at one point. In fact, Ferrum took a 67-63 lead with 1:52 remaining on a lay-up by Aline Alzime. However, consecutive lay-ups by Lisa Jackson and Stacy Williams tied the game at 68-68 with 53 seconds remaining.

Ferrum had a chance to take the lead, but Methodist’s Antionett Holliday rebounded a missed Panther shot and was fouled on the play. The junior center calmly sank both free throws, giving the Lady Monarchs a 70-68 lead with 18 seconds remaining.

With Methodist clinging to a one-point lead in the waning seconds, Ferrum had a tremendous chance to win the game. However, Alzime missed a close lay-up, and Holliday came away with the rebound with three seconds remaining. On that play, there was clock malfunction, and the Ferrum bench was assessed two technical fouls.

The Lady Monarchs converted two free throws in the final couple of the seconds to secure the victory.

Williams scored a career-high 20 points for Methodist on 6-for-10 shooting from the field as four Lady Monarchs reached double-figures in scoring. Jackson and Kristen Whitehurst both scored 14 points for the Lady Monarchs, while Ashley Harris scored 12 points. Methodist prevailed despite shooting only 54 percent from the free throw line and 16 percent from 3-point range.

For Ferrum (9-10, 5-4), Tawanna McCall paced the Panthers with 13 points, followed by Alexandria Davenport with 12 points. Alzime recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds, and Caprice Law added 10 points off the bench.

Methodist travels Tuesday for a 5:30 p.m. showdown at Averett.