FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. - Fourth-seeded Methodist University ended Shenandoah University's women's basketball season with a 65-53 win over the Hornets Tuesday night in the USA South Conference Tournament quarterfinals.

The Monarchs (16-10) advance into Friday's semi-finals, where they will face top-seeded and tournament host Christopher Newport in a 6:00 contest.

Shenandoah ends its season with a 14-11 record.

This is just the second time in the past five years that SU has not advanced into the tournament semis.

The Hornets, who were seeking their first win over MU this season, jumped out to a quick lead Tuesday and held a pair of seven-point leads in the first 10 minutes.

Unfortunately for coach Michelle Guyant-Holloway, Methodist went on a 10-2 run over the next 4:09 and never trailed again.

The run extended itself to a 18-8 spurt to finish the opening 20 minutes.

Five straight points from junior Stephanie Holton brought Shenandoah to within one, 35-34, at the 16:19 mark, but Guyant-Holloway's club could get no closer.

MU answered the Holton buckets with an 11-2 run in 5:53 and held at least an eight-point lead the rest of the way.

Holton led the Hornets with 14 points while Katherine Flint and Alexis Hargbol had 11 and 10 points, respectively, in their final Shenandoah hoops contests.

Jackie Lyles paced Methodist with a game-high 17.

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