DAHLONEGA, Ga. – Junior DeDe Cotten notched a career-high 22 points to lead the UNCP women's basketball squad to a 77-68 victory over North Georgia on Saturday afternoon in a Peach Belt Conference cross-divisional matchup at Memorial Hall in Dahlonega, Ga.

With the win, the Lady Braves (10-13, 6-9 PBC) keep hold of the fourth-spot in the PBC's East Division standings with the top four in each division advancing to the PBC Tournament that begins on Mar. 1 in Aiken, S.C.

As a squad, the Lady Braves finished 21-of-47 (44.7 percent) from the field and shot a blistering 10-of-18 (55.6 percent) from downtown despite being out-rebounded 40-31 and only managing half as many points in the paint (24-12) as the host Lady Saints (14-10, 5-8 PBC).

Cotten led the UNCP bench-scoring effort with 22 of the teams 31 points, while North Georgia's (14-10, 5-8) reserves could only accounted for three of the team's total of 68. She finished 6-of-8 from the floor and 4-of-6 from 3-point land and 6-of-6 from the foul line while adding four rebounds, a block and two steals in 24 minutes of action.

Fellow junior Domonique Washington added 12 points, five assists and six rebounds in 36 minutes of work while Briana Stanton and Talena Faison rounded out the Lady Braves in double figures with 11 and 10 points, respectively.

UNCP will return to action on Wednesday when they host USC Aiken (21-4, 13-2) at the English E. Jones Center in Pembroke. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. with the men's portion of the doubleheader to follow afterwards.