February 11, 2006
Lady Monarchs drop 75-65 non-conference decision at Piedmont
Jackson scores 15 points off the bench in Methodist defeat

DEMOREST, Ga. – Playing outside the USA South Athletic Conference for the final time in the 2005-06 season, the Methodist Lady Monarch women’s basketball team dropped a tough 75-65 decision at Piedmont on Saturday at the Johnny Mize Center. The defeat drops Methodist to an even 11-11 overall on the season.

It was a first half pretty much dominated by the Lady Monarchs for the majority. With the score tied 9-9, Methodist went on a 9-0 run to lead by nine points. Kristen Whitehurst accounted for the first six points on inside baskets, and Zan Messer’s 3-point basket gave Methodist an 18-9 lead with 11 minutes remaining.

The Lady Monarchs stretched the lead to as much as 13 points, and then led by 10 points, 30-20 on two Stacy Williams free throws with 4:48 remaining. However, Piedmont responded with a 12-1 run and took a 32-31 lead on Shemeka Trimiar’s basket with 55 seconds remaining.

Methodist took a 33-32 lead on a Jackson jumper with 13 seconds, but the Lady Lions regained the lead as time expired on Sarah Lane’s lay-up off an offensive rebound.

In the second half, Piedmont never relinquished the lead. The Lady Lions built a 10-point lead 52-42 on Lane’s basket with 14:28 remaining. Piedmont then took its largest lead of the game, 14 points, on Stephanie Rainwater’s 3-point basket at the 10-minute mark.

Methodist trimmed the deficit to six points on two Antionett Holliday free throws with six minutes remaining. That, however, was as close as the Lady Monarchs would get. Holliday drained a jumper in the lane to make the Lady Lion lead 73-65 with 1:24 remaining.

Jackson scored 15 points off the bench to pace the Lady Monarchs on 7-for-8 shooting from the field. Williams scored 14 points, followed by Holliday with 13 points and Whitehurst with 10 points.

For Piedmont (17-6), Trimiar scored 17 points off the bench, while Beth Adcock tallied 14 points. Nikki Sosebee recorded a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds, followed by Lane with another double-double – 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Methodist returns to USA South action on Monday at 5:30 p.m. at North Carolina Wesleyan.