MONTEVALLO, Ala. – Visiting UNCP shot better than 57 percent from the field in the second half and used a late 16-2 run to turn back Peach Belt Conference rival Montevallo, 61-53, on Monday afternoon in the BackTrust Arena.

The triumph helped the Lady Braves (9-9, 3-6 PBC) snap a two-game losing streak, as well as stay perfect against the Lady Falcons (11-7, 6-3). UNCP has now won eight-straight against Montevallo, improving in the all-time series to 8-0.

Jazmine Kemp scored game-high 24 points on 9-of-11 from the floor to pace the Black and Gold and set a new career-high. Kemp totaled 18 points in the second half to help set the temp for the come-from-behind victory. The Lady Braves got a key bench performance from Kamille Horne, who came off the bench to post 11 points, while Chandrica Fuller also scored in double-digits for UNCP, finishing with 11 points.  Kemp and Courtney Bolton grabbed a team-best seven rebounds apiece. 

The Lady Falcons got double-digit scoring performances from three players, including a team-high 16 points from Taylor Beverley. Trena Moore-Smith and Zena Nasiloski recorded 14 points and 10 points, respectively. 

"I thought it was good team win. We did a good job defensively and rebounding for forty minutes. We struggled to score in first half, but got much more aggressive offensively and played very well for the remainder of the game. Jazmine Kemp had a great game, she was very aggressive on 9-11 shooting and took it to the basket, she did a lot of good things. Chandrica Fuller had a good game attacking the basket and handling the ball for us, it was also nice to get Courtney Bolton some minutes. And then there's Kamille Horne who really played well coming off the bench to score 11 points and get some rebounds, she was very key. I'm proud of our girls, we got down but stayed together and kept fighting to came out with good win," said UNCP head coach John Haskins.

Montevallo extended a four-point halftime lead out to double digits, 27-17, within the first two minutes of the second half. The Lady Braves played from behind until Fuller ignited a 16-2 run that allowed UNCP to take their first lead of the half at 42-41, after a bucket from Horne. UNCP controlled the momentum for the remainder of the half, never allowing the Lady Falcons to take the lead. Kemp made good on consecutive free throws with 36 seconds remaining to solidify the win for the Black and Gold.

The two teams went back-and-forth in the first half, tying the game up three times. Montevallo took its biggest lead of the half, 17-9, after Alex Strickland drained a jump shot. The Lady Braves scored eight unanswered points to bring the score to 17-17. Consecutive free throws from Strickland and a bucket from Moore-Smith would give Montevallo a 21-17 halftime advantage. 

The Lady Braves will close their four-game road swing on Saturday when they make the trip to Augusta, Ga., to face PBC East Rival Augusta State (11-2, 5-2) in the first half of a 5:30 p.m. doubleheader inside the Christenberry Fieldhouse.