Box Score

GREENWOOD, S.C. – Needing a win to inch closer to Peach Belt Conference (PBC) East Division leader Lander, the UNC Pembroke women's basketball squad was held to its lowest point total of the season in a 73-44 loss to the Bearcats Monday evening at Horne Arena.

The setback marks the first back-to-back losses for the Braves (14-8, 9-6 PBC) this season, as they fall to 4-7 away from home. The Bearcats (17-5, 10-3) have now won seven straight overall dating back to Jan. 21, with their last loss coming to the Black & Gold in Pembroke on Jan. 18.

UNCP set or tied season-low outputs in points (44), field goals made (16) and assists (5), as it succumbed to the Lander full-court press on multiple occasions. The Bearcats turned 19 Black & Gold turnovers into 34 points and dominated the offensive glass by grabbing 23 offensive boards and cashing in 26 second-chance points. The Braves were outrebounded (50-33) for just the eighth time in 22 games this season.

Junior Brianna Baham paced the Braves offense with 13 points to mark her fifth-consecutive game in double-digits and 10th in the last 12 contests. Senior Jasmine Huntley poured in nine points, while junior Nyla Allen scored six points and hauled in a team-best nine rebounds.

Down 12-7 with under four minutes to play in the first quarter, the Braves used a 6-0 run to take a 13-12 lead on a Brandi Robinson jumper with 2:06 on the clock. Lander responded by scoring the final seven point of the period to lead 19-13 after one.

From the 13-12 UNCP lead in the first, the Bearcats scored 28 of the next 34 points in the half to take a 40-19 lead into the locker rooms. The Black & Gold did not get closer than 18 points in the final 20 minutes of action.

The Braves return home Wednesday to host PBC East foe USC Aiken at Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court. Tipoff is slated for 5:30 p.m. on the front end of a doubleheader. UNCP is 10-1 at home this season, the most home wins in a season since the 2004-05 campaign. The Pacers (13-11, 9-6) have lost two straight, but defeated the Black & Gold 83-77 in overtime Jan. 21 in Aiken, South Carolina.