February 17, 2006
Lady Monarchs finish strong with 86-78 triumph over Shenandoah
Jackson records second double-double with 23 points, 12 rebounds in Methodist victory

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – There were plenty of scares for the Methodist Lady Monarch women’s basketball on Friday night against visiting USA South Athletic Conference rival Shenandoah. However, Methodist finished strong and pulled out an 86-78 victory over the Hornets at the Riddle Center.

The victory was the second straight for Methodist, which improved to 13-11 overall and 8-5 in the USA South.

Methodist could do little wrong in the first half, shooting 61 percent from the field, including a whopping 8-for-12 (67 percent) from 3-point range. Shenandoah kept the Methodist lead in single-digits for much of the first half until the Lady Monarchs 9-2 run to take a 48-36 lead with 3:39 remaining.

Ann Forsberg drained a jump shot, followed two straight lay-ups by Stacy Williams. After Shenandoah trimmed the Methodist lead to eight points, the Lady Monarchs responded again as Lisa Jackson drained a 3-point basket, and Ashley Williams scored on a jump shot with three seconds left to give Methodist a 53-40 lead at halftime.

However, in the second half, Shenandoah came out on fire. The Lady Hornets put together a 15-4 run in the first six minutes to trim the Methodist lead to two points. Joia Davis scored twice in transition, followed by a jumper and a 3-point basket by Dee Fisher. That made the Lady Monarch lead 57-55 with 14:04 remaining.

The Hornets cut the deficit to two points on a couple of more occasions before Methodist gradually pulled away. Antionett Holliday drained a baseline jump shot, and Kristen Whitehurst’s lay-up in transition stretched the Methodist lead to 72-63 at the 7:19 mark. A lay-up by Williams then gave the Lady Monarchs a 10-point lead, 76-66 with 5:09 remaining.

Shenandoah was able to cut the lead to four points, but another inside basket by Holliday and four Jackson free throws down the stretch sealed it for Methodist.

Jackson recorded a double-double with 23 points and 12 rebounds for Methodist. Williams scored 13 points, followed by Harris, Holliday and Whitehurst each with 10 points. The Lady Monarchs shot 52 percent from the field and 73 percent from the free throw line.

For Shenandoah (8-15, 4-9), Fisher scored 21 points on five 3-point baskets, followed by Cassie Womack with 20 points and 16 rebounds for a double-double. Alicia Sanders and Davis both added 12 points.

Methodist plays host to Christopher Newport on Senior Day on Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Riddle Center.