Rocky Mount, N.C. - Junior Tiffany Bell and sophomore Derreon Cole each netted 17 points to help lead their Battling Bishop women's basketball team to an 80-69 league victory over Methodist University on Saturday afternoon in Everett Gymnasium. The win ups Wesleyan's USA South record to 9-6 on the season.

Sparked by Cole's 10 points off the bench, NCWC forged a 33-21 lead over the Monarchs with 6:21 left in the first half. The Bishops, however, watched as Methodist closed out the period with a 10-0 run that sent the two teams into intermission with NCWC holding a slim 33-31 advantage.

Wesleyan's offensive drought continued into the second half, allowing the Monarchs to take their biggest lead, 41-36, at the 15:53 mark. Senior Samantha Urquhart got the Bishops going with jumper, while Bell and junior Monet Edwards drained back-to-back treys to help Wesleyan retake the lead.

Later tied for the ninth time at 51-51, Bell put NCWC on top for good with another three-pointer. The Monarchs did not go away easily, staying close at 68-66 with under four minutes left, but Wesleyan closed out the game with a 12-3 run that saw the Bishops knock down 5-of-6 attempts at the charity stripe in the final minute.

Bell poured in 15 of her 17 points in the second half, while Urquhart and Shanice Goree rounded out Wesleyan's double-figure scorers with 16 and 10, respectively. Urquhart completed the double-double with 10 rebounds.

Wesleyan returns to action at home on Sunday versus Greensboro College. Tip-off is slated for 2:00pm.