Box Score VIRGINIA BEACH, Virginia - The Virginia Wesleyan University women's basketball team fell to the Monarchs of Methodist University 68-52 on Wednesday evening at TowneBank Arena in Virginia Beach, VA. 

GAME INFORMATION
Score: Methodist 68 - Virginia Wesleyan 52
Records: Virginia Wesleyan 3-8 | Methodist 4-4
Location: TowneBank Arena | Virginia Beach, VA

INSIDE THE SCORE
Methodist got on the scoreboard first with a basket a minute into the game but the Marlins responded with a three pointer by Celeste Rucker 30 seconds later to take a 3-2 lead. The teams continued to trade baskets and the lead over the next four minutes until a three pointer by Jessica Jennings gave the Marlins a 10-8 lead at 4:18 on the clock. MU connected on a free throw to pull within one, 10-9, but VWU went ahead by five points after successfully connecting on four three throws to lead 14-9 at the three minute mark. Neither team found a basket for the next two minutes, however, the Monarchs put up five points in the final 60 seconds to knot the score at 14 all heading into the second quarter.

Both teams began the second quarter with a three, VWU's coming from Lenah Clements, but from there the Monarchs took off on a 9-0 run leading 26-17 with 4:16 left in the half. The Marlins cut the lead to five points, 26-21, following a jumper by Adaje Williams and a pair of free throws from Terina Dandrige, but Methodist closed out the half scoring the last six points to take a 32-21 lead into the break.

MU opened up the third on an 8-0 run opening up a 19 point lead, 40-21, with seven minutes left in the quarter. A three by Clements ended the Marlins scoreless drought putting the score at 40-24, but Methodist continued to to roll scoring another eight unanswered points to lead by 24 points, 48-24, at the four minute mark. In the final three minutes of the third quarter the Marlins scored eight points on four free throws, two each from Jennings and S'Zahria Jones, and a couple of baskets, one from Jada Norman and the other from Williams. MU held on to a 52-32 lead heading into the final ten minute quarter.

VWU outscored MU 20-16 in the fourth quarter but the lead the Monarchs had built up was too large for the Marlins to overcome. Natalia Collier gave the Marlins a spark scoring four quick points on a free throw and a three pointer. Imani Felton went four-for-four from the charity strip and was a perfect six-of-six on the night. Jones added a trio of points from free throws, while Williams contributed six points in the paint. Methodist ultimately ended the game with a 16 point lead, 68-52.

VIRGINIA WESLEYAN LEADERS
The Marlins were led by Adaje Williams with 15 points and 10 rebounds, her third double-double of the season and seventh of her career. Jessica Jennings was the second leading scorer for VWU with seven points while Lenah Clements and Imani Felton both added six of their own to round out the top four scorers from Virginia Wesleyan. 

METHODIST LEADERS
The Monarchs were led by a pair of players with ten points apiece in Aneesa Irizarry and Aniyah Tate. Kiley Hicks and Jillian Peterson both added eight points as the top four scorers. Irizarry led the team with six assists while Tate, Peterson, and Rebecca McGaughnea all tallied six rebounds each.

UP NEXT
The Virginia Wesleyan University women's basketball team will break for the holiday season and resume action early in the New Year. The Marlins return to the court on Wednesday January 5, 2022, when they host the Hornets of Shenandoah University. Tip off time is set for 7 PM but will follow the men's basketball game against Randolph College that starts at 5 PM.