MURFREESBORO – Courtney Bolton and Jazmine Kemp used double-double performances to help the UNCP women's basketball team earn its fifth straight win by defeating region rival Chowan, 60-45, on Tuesday evening in the Helms Center.

The Lady Braves (5-2) have won five-straight regular season contests for the first time since the 2006-07 season, and move to 4-3 all-time against Chowan (0-7). 

Bolton led the way for UNCP, totaling 18 points and 11 rebounds, while Kemp added 11 points and 10 rebounds. The Lady Braves won the advantage on rebounds collecting 45 total rebounds, compared to just 29 rebounds from the Hawks. Bolton and Chandrica Fuller had two steals each, as UNCP earned seven total steals. 

Chowan was led by Janelle Murphy who was 5-of-15 from 3 point territory and recorded 23 points. Murphy also grabbed a team-high six boards, while Karina Monroe and Shanice Henry added five rebounds apiece.  

"We played really well tonight for the first eleven minutes and then we struggled from there on. Our defense was fairly solid with the exception of giving Murphy some threes. We hung in there and pulled it out tonight. Now we just need to get ready for Aiken on Saturday," said UNCP head coach John Haskins. 

UNCP entered the second half with a 31-18 lead over Chowan and quickly went on an 8-3 run, stretching the lead to 39-21. Murphy turned in 18 second half points for the Hawks and drained three-consecutive triples, bringing Chowan within nine. The Lady Braves scored eight unanswered points in the final three minutes to close out the game, 60-45. 

The Lady Braves dominated the Hawks in the first half, causing Chowan to shoot just 20 percent from the field. UNCP led by as much as 18 points, 25-7, midway through the first half. The Black and Gold were able to keep the Chowan offense stagnant throughout the half, as the Lady Braves took a 13-point advantage into halftime. 

UNCP will next hit the road for its first Peach Belt Conference game of the 2012-13 season, to face off with nationally-ranked No. 3 USC Aiken (6-0) on Saturday at the Convocation Center. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m.