Box Score
MORROW, Ga. – Up by four after the first quarter, the UNC Pembroke women's basketball team was outscored 22-9 in the second stanza in a 72-49 loss to Clayton State Saturday afternoon in Peach Belt Conference (PBC) Tournament quarterfinal action.
Making their 19th appearance in the league tournament since joining the league prior to the 1992-93 season, the Braves (15-12) have now lost in the opening round 16 times to fall to 3-19 all-time in the tournament. The Lakers (24-5) advance to the semifinal round where they will match up with host and the East's No. 1-seed Lander next Saturday.
The Black & Gold used a 12-4 run to close the first quarter, including seven of the 12 from junior
Nyla Allen. The hosts turned the tables in the next 10 minutes by going on a 20-4 run over the final 7:20 of the second quarter to drag a 31-22 lead into the locker rooms.
After going down by 14 points through the first minute of the third, the Braves never closed the deficit to single digits again. Six free throws beginning at the 3:36 mark of the third pulled UNCP within 12, but Clayton State scored the next five points to go back up by 17.
Senior
LaShonda Prichard scored a season-best 13 points for the Braves, including a career-high three makes from behind the arc. Allen poured in 10 points and grabbed eight rebounds, while senior
Jasmine Huntley chipped in eight points.
Clayton State's Tweety Hawkins led all scorers with 15 points, while Ashley Cunningham and Shakira Walker each added 10 points to the winning effort.
The stingy Laker defense held the Black & Gold to its lowest shooting percentage (23.4) of the season and forced UNCP into 20 turnovers. The Braves turned 20 Laker turnovers into 20 points on the other end, but were called for a season-high 31 fouls that led to 34 Clayton State free throws (28-of-34). UNCP went 14-for-18 at the charity stripe.
The Braves wrap up a 2016-17 campaign that saw them win their most overall games and league games since the 2011-12 season and set a new standard for home wins in a row at 11.
