PEMBROKE– The UNC Pembroke women's basketball team shot 44 percent from the field, including an 11-for-25 clip from the perimeter, and led for more than 39 minutes as the Braves snapped a three-game losing streak with a 72-53 victory over Young Harris on Saturday in Pembroke.
 
The Black & Gold (2-3, 1-0 PBC) has now captured two of its last three Peach Belt Conference openers, as well as two of its last three league home openers as well. Young Harris (1-5, 0-1) fell to 2-6 all-time in the series with UNCP, and has now dropped four-straight games in Pembroke.

 

THE BASICS

SCORE: UNC Pembroke 72, Young Harris 53 RECORDS: UNC Pembroke 2-3, 1-0 PBC; Young Harris 1-5, 0-1 PBC LOCATION: Pembroke, N.C. (Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court)

HOW IT HAPPENED

1ST QUARTER

Aliyah Farmer's layup with just 2:30 left in the first quarter gave the Braves a 7-point lead, 15-8. The Braves got back-to-back 3-pointers from Melanie Horne to extend the lead out to 24-10. The Mountain Lions scored with two seconds left on a jumper by Dee Dee McLane, but trailed 24-12 at the end of the first quarter.

2ND QUARTER

Young Harris cut the lead to back to eight points, 35-27, in the second quarter on a 3-pointer by Dee Dee McLane with 2:08 left. UNC Pembroke closed out the period with a basket by Se'Dasia Love and two made free throws by Alecia Hardy to take a 37-27 advantage into the locker rooms.

3RD QUARTER

Tee Graham made a jumper just 15 seconds into the third quarter to push the lead for the Black & Gold out to 12 points, 39-27. The teams traded baskets over the next handful of possessions, but the Braves would go on an 11-0 run to stretch the lead out to 20 points, 56-36. Young Harris scored eight of the last 10 points of the period to trim their deficit back to 58-44.

4TH QUARTER

Young Harris connected on just three of their 14 shot attempts (21.4 percent) in the final period, but put up the final points of the game on Lindsay Caudell's 3-pointer with 19 ticks left. The Braves led by as many 22 points, 72-50, on a pair of free throws from newcomer Naomi Gilbert with 36 seconds left to play.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

+ Sophomore Melanie Horne scored a career-high 19 points on 6-of-12 shooting to lead all scorers. She also added two rebounds and a pair of steals. + Freshman ShaNiya Lester added a career-high 14 points in just 21 minutes of action, while also adding five rebounds and three assists. + Junior Tee Graham turned in a career-high seven assists, while also grabbing five steals.

NOTABLES

+ Saturday's victory snapped a three-game losing streak for the Braves that dated back three weeks. + UNCP led for nearly 39-1/2 minutes (39:20) in Saturday's outing. The only time the Braves did not lead came at the 7:45 mark in the first quarter when Dee Dee Mclane's 3-pointer knotted the score up at five apiece. + The Braves improved to 4-1 against Young Harris at Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court, and have now won four-straight games in Pembroke dating back to the 2015-16 season.

UP NEXT

The Braves travel to Chowan (4-4) on Tuesday for a non-conference matchup at the Helms Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.

STAY CONNECTED

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JOIN THE BRAVES CLUB

Fans can help support the UNC Pembroke Women's Basketball program by joining the Braves Club. To find out more information about the Braves Club, visit UNCPBraves.com/BravesClub or email braves.club@uncp.edu.