FAYETTEVILLE, NC --The Pfeiffer women's basketball team shot just 25.5% from the field in a 50-38 USA South road loss at Methodist University on Saturday afternoon.
Freshman Ava Hairston led the Falcons (4-5, 3-2) with 11 points, six rebounds and two steals. Senior Alexis Bynum also added eight points and three steals while Shania Haynes helped out with four points and two steals from the bench.
Led by Hairston's four offensive rebounds, Pfeiffer did a great job crashing the offensive glass, as they pulled down 12 boards that resulted in eight second chance points.
Pfeiffer's defense held Methodist to 7.7 percent shooting from beyond the arc and 39.6 percent from the field. The Monarchs did not have much luck cleaning up their misses on the offensive glass either, as they finished with nine offensive rebounds and managed seven second chance points.
How It Happened
After jumping out to a 5-4 advantage, Pfeiffer went on a 5-0 run with 4:44 left in the first quarter, culminating in a bucket from Hairston, to increase its lead to 10-4. The Falcons then lost some of that lead, but still entered the quarter break with a 16-12 advantage. Pfeiffer did most of its first quarter damage in the paint, scoring eight of its 16 points close to the basket.
The Falcons could not maintain their lead in the second quarter and entered halftime trailing 32-21.
Following halftime, Pfeiffer kept the Monarchs from growing their lead before going on a 5-0 run, punctuated by a basket from Hairston, to trim its deficit to 36-30 with 23 seconds to go in the third, a score which remained until the end of the third quarter. Pfeiffer played well near the basket, scoring six of its nine points in the paint.
Pfeiffer could not pull any closer in the fourth, losing by a final of 50-38. Pfeiffer got a boost from its bench in the period, with non-starters scoring six of its eight total points.
Game Notes
» Neither team shot well, with the Falcons shooting just 25.5% while the Monarchs managed 39.6% output.
» Pfeiffer played solid perimeter defense, holding Methodist to 8 percent from beyond the arc on 13 attempts.
» The Pfeiffer bench came alive by scoring 19 points to its scoring output.
» Pfeiffer lost despite a 39-35 rebounding advantage.
» The Pfeiffer defense forced 19 turnovers.
» Pfeiffer cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 12 offensive boards in the game.
» Ava Hairston led the Falcons with a game-high 11 points.
» Pfeiffer got a team-high seven rebounds from Lola Cabaniss-Ali.
Up Next
The Falcons will return to USA South play in Merner Gym on Tuesday, Jan.7 with a 5:00 p.m. matchup with Southern Virginia as a part of a doubleheader with the Falcon men's team.
