BUIES CREEK – The UNC Pembroke women's basketball team scored 13-straight points in the third quarter to break an otherwise close game wide open, and then held off a furious fourth quarter rally by Campbell on the way to a 67-62 victory over the Camels in an exhibition contest for the Braves on Friday evening at Gore Arena.
The victory was the first for UNCP over an NCAA Division I school since the Braves knocked off UNC Wilmington, 64-60, in an exhibition contest on Nov. 4, 2013. The loss snapped a three-game win streak in season-opening contests for Campbell (0-1). Although not affecting the win-loss record for UNCP, the game was a countable contest for Campbell.
Freshman Avery Locklear came off the bench to score 16 points on 5-of-9 shooting to lead UNCP, who also got 10 points apiece from both Jasmine Huntley and newcomer Lashona Prichard. Mary Robinson tallied 11 rebounds and a trio of assists for the visitors as well.
Amanda Coffer registered a double-double with 18 points and a dozen rebounds to pace the Camels, while RaeChaun Edwards chipped in 18 of her own in 37 minutes of action.
The Braves shot better than 45 percent from the floor in the second half, including a perfect 6-for-6 effort in the game deciding run in the third quarter. Edwards connected a big 3-pointer with 5:03 left in the third period to knot the score up at 33 apiece, but Jonissa Monley's bucket just more than a minute later sparked the Black & Gold on a 13-3 run that ended the third quarter.
The Camels got to within a single point, 56-55, after a trey by Edwards with 3:53 left to play, but clutch perimeter shots by both Robinson and Crystal Hicks would over the next 90 seconds would give UNCP a 62-57 edge with 2:18 left. A layup by Coffer with 17 seconds remaining made it a 65-62 game, but Locklear canned both of her free throw attempts on the other end of the court to ice the game.
The Braves will close out the preseason portion of their 2015-16 schedule on Sunday when they make the short trip east on U.S. 74 to take on UNC Wilmington. Tipoff is slated for 2 p.m. inside Trask Coliseum. The game will serve as a countable contest for the Seahawks.
