January 23, 2006
Lady Monarchs regain edge in 72-43 rout over North Carolina Wesleyan
Williams, Harris pace balanced Methodist attack with 12 points each

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The weekend off was good for the Methodist Lady Monarch women’s basketball as it came back refreshed and refocused on Monday night against longtime rival North Carolina Wesleyan. The result was arguably the best performance of the season as the Lady Monarchs routed the visiting Bishops 72-43 at the Riddle Center.

The victory was the second straight for Methodist (7-7, 3-2) and its fourth in the last five games.

Methodist did little wrong in the first half as the Lady Monarchs turned a tight game into a runaway. With the scored tied 12-12 at the 14:49 mark, Methodist went on an 8-0 run as two Courtney Bissette free throws gave Methodist a 20-12 lead with 11:16 remaining. After North Carolina Wesleyan trimmed the lead to four, the Lady Monarchs responded again, this time with a 10-0 run.

Ashley Harris scored six straight points in the rally, and Kristen Whitehurst’s lay-up gave the Lady Monarchs a 30-16 lead with 3:31 remaining. Following a North Carolina Wesleyan 3-point basket, Methodist closed out the half in fine fashion thanks to a 13-0 run.

Zan Messer connected on a 3-point basket at the 1:14 mark, and then sank a half-court 3-point bomb as time expired in the first half. That gave Methodist a 43-19 lead at the break.

The Lady Monarchs’ largest lead in the second half was 34 points. Amanda Underwood sank a jump shot at the 10:58 mark to make the Methodist lead 61-27. Chasele Hester’s jump shot in the lane then gave the Lady Monarchs a 66-32 cushion with 5:59 remaining.

Harris and Stacy Williams paced a balanced Methodist attack with 12 points each. Messer and Courtney Bissette each scored nine points, while Whitehurst added eight points for the Lady Monarchs. Defensively, Methodist limited the Bishops to only 30 percent shooting from the field and forced 27 North Carolina Wesleyan turnovers.

Kacie Sprankle and Cheyenne Hall each scored 13 points for North Carolina Wesleyan (2-11, 0-5).

Methodist goes out of conference on Thursday, play host to in-state rival Meredith at 7 p.m. at the Riddle Center.