Box Score

PEMBROKE – The UNC Pembroke women's basketball squad took the lead on an Ebone Stevens 3-pointer with just over four minutes to go in the first quarter and never trailed again in a runaway 71-51 victory over visiting Georgia College Friday afternoon at Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court.
 
With the win, the Braves (8-4, 3-2 PBC) snap a four-game skid to the Bobcats (8-3, 2-2 PBC) and become the first team in the Peach Belt Conference (PBC) East Division to three league wins. It's the second-consecutive conference loss for Georgia College, who started the season 2-0 in league play.
 
The Black & Gold outscored the guests in all four quarters, including a dominant opening frame that saw UNCP knock down seven of their final 10 shots to lead 23-15 after 10 minutes of action. The lead was extended to as many as 14 on a Nyla Allen jumper at the 3:51 mark of the second quarter before the Bobcats closed the gap to 39-26 at the break.
 
Georgia College came out of the locker room with a vengeance, opening the third on a 7-0 run to trim the UNCP lead to 39-33. But the home squad responded with a bang, scoring 14 of the final 16 points in the period to reclaim the lead 53-35 at the end of three. The Braves' lead widened to 24 when Allen buried a pair of freebies with 2:27 to play, the largest UNCP advantage of the game.
 
Jonissa Monley cashed in a team-best 18 points, tying her season high on 7-of-12 shooting. The senior tacked on seven rebounds and a pair of assists. Junior Brianna Baham rattled home 12 points and grabbed a trio of rebounds, while freshman Brandi Robinson connected with 11 points and hauled in nine boards in just her second game of the season. Stevens added 11 and Jasmine Huntley poured in 10 to give the Braves' five players in double-figure scoring.
 
The Black & Gold perimeter defense shined again Friday, holding the Bobcats to just 1-of-16 shooting from 3-point range, a season low for Georgia College. The Bobcats' 51 points was the lowest output in their last nine games and their leading scorer Alyah McGriff was held to half of her season average in points with just nine.
 
The Braves capitalized on critical minutes off the bench, getting 36 points from the reserves, and dished out 16 assists as a team, with at least one from 10 different players.
 
UNCP now hits the road to Alabama for a Monday meeting with Montevallo. Tipoff is slated for 6:30 p.m. on the front end of a women's-men's doubleheader at Trustmark Arena. The Falcons (3-7, 0-3 PBC) are losers of four straight overall and are 3-4 at home this season. The Braves are 6-1 all-time against Montevallo, dating back to the first meeting in 2010 and a perfect 3-0 on the Falcons' home court.