WINCHESTER, Va. - Visiting Methodist University overcame a cold shooting start Saturday afternoon to earn a 57-50 USA South Conference women's basketball decision over host Shenandoah.

Shenandoah (2-4, 0-2 USA South) raced out to an 18-5 lead by the 8:58 mark of the first as Methodist (5-3, 2-0) missed 15 of its first 16 shots from the field.

Unfortunately, SU could not sustain its start.

The Monarchs answered this Shenandoah start, which ended with a Caity Gadinski layup at 8:58, by scoring 12 of the game's next 14 points in a span of just 3:23.

Adriana Wilson capped this run, which also featured seven straight points, by draining a three-ball with 4:24 remaining.

SU was briefly able to extend the advantage back to seven points, but Methodist completed the first on a 6-2 spurt to trail by just three, 26-23, at the half.

It took just 2:51 of the second half for the Monarchs to finally make it all the way back, taking a 31-30 lead on a Michaela Myers free throw at 17:09.

Shenandoah was able to tie the game on two different occasions, the last with 14:58 remaining, before Methodist took the lead for good on a Jordan Tyson layup with 14:43 left.

SU cut the deficit to one, 49-48, at 3:07, but was not able to find the game-tying bucket.

Wilson led the victors with 12 points while Kayla Thompson had 11. Dawn Sanderson had nine points and a game-high 17 rebounds for MU.

Katherine Flint paced the Hornets with 12 points.

Shenandoah is back in action tomorrow at 2 against Greensboro.

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