SAVANNAH, Ga. – After a tough fought 40 minutes of play especially with being tied at the half, the UNCP women's basketball team suffered a two-point loss to Peach Belt Conference rival Armstrong Atlantic on Monday evening in Alumni Arena, 54-52.

Junior Courtney Bolton collected her second consecutive and third overall double-double this season with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Senior DeDe Cotten drained 12 points as she was 4-of-7 from the three-point line. The Lady Braves (4-5, 1-2 PBC) shot 38.5 percent in three-point shooting and 75.0 percent from the charity stripe.

The Lady Pirates (7-3, 2-2) took the early lead on two jumpers until UNCP took its first lead at the 15:52 mark on a jumper by Bolton and three-pointer by Cotten. The largest lead of the game for Armstrong was at the 11:59 mark on the layup by Angelia Hill, but the Black and Gold continued to press on and tie the game for the fifth time after 20 minutes of action with a score of 22-22. The Lady Braves collected eight points in the paint, eight points off turnovers and five points off fast breaks by halftime.

The second half started similar to the first with two jumpers by the Lady Pirates until Bolton's layup brough the squad to within two. The game was tied for the 10th time at 49-49 with 1:56 remaining on the clock. Newcomer Taylor Gallentine gave UNCP the one point lead on a foul shot until the lead returned to the Lady Pirates on the jumper by Hill. Freshman Jazmine Kemp answered to bring the Black and Gold ahead by one with 00:48 left to play.

The final and 11th tied score of the game came with 00:38 second on the clock, but the Lady Braves suffered as the ball was turned over in the final seconds to secure the victory for the Lady Pirates.

Senior Domonique Washington gathered eight points, seven rebounds and led the team with five steals. Bolton stuffed the only block for UNCP, while Gallentine grabbed a game-high three steals. 

Armstrong was led by Mauri Wells with 14 points and 11 rebounds, while Hill and D.D. Gipson each added 10 points. Gipson was short of a double-double with nine rebounds, and Jazmin Walker dished out five assists. The Lady Pirates shot 38.5 percent from the field and outrebounded UNCP, 38-35.

The Lady Braves will take 10 days off for the Christmas holiday before returning to the court in the Georgia College Classic Tournament to face Limestone (5-4) on December 30 and Tusculum (5-3) on December 31. Tip-off is slated for 5 p.m. and 1 p.m., respectively.