AMERICUS, Ga. – Columbus State scored 22 points off of 23 turnovers by the UNC Pembroke women's basketball team and used a strong fourth quarter performance on the way to a 68-60 victory over the Braves on Wednesday at the Storm Dome.
 
The setback kept the Braves (2-6, 1-2 PBC) winless in true road games this season, while also marking their first road loss in the series with the Lady Hurricanes. It was the first Peach Belt Conference win of the season for Georgia Southwestern (4-5, 1-2), as well as its first home victory of the 2018-19 campaign.


 

THE BASICS

SCORE: Georgia Southwestern 68, UNC Pembroke 60 RECORDS: UNC Pembroke 2-6, 1-2 PBC; Georgia Southwestern 4-5, 1-2 PBC LOCATION: Americus, Ga. (Storm Dome)

HOW IT HAPPENED

1ST QUARTER

UNC Pembroke negated an early 12-4 deficit with an 8-0 run that ended on a pair of game-tying free throws from Alecia Hardy with 2-1/2 minutes left in the period. The Lady Hurricanes scored the final four points of the quarter to take a 16-12 advantage into the second period.

2ND QUARTER

The hosts scored six of the first eight points of the second quarter to grab a 22-14 lead after Lex Chatman's jumper at the 8:40 mark. The Braves answered with a 7-0 run to pull to within one, 22-21, two minutes later, but the Lady Hurricanes tacked up eight of the next 10 points to pad their lead back to seven points, 30-23. The hosts would eventually take a 33-27 lead into halftime.

3RD QUARTER

UNC Pembroke took their first lead of the day, 40-39, on a 3-pointer by Melanie Horne with 4:17 remaining, but traded leads with the Hurricanes for a good part of the next three minutes. UNCP took a 46-43 lead on Melanie Horne's fastbreak jumper with 51 seconds left in the quarter, but Lex Chatman connected on a short jumper at the 24-second mark to cut the GSW deficit back to one heading into the final period.

4TH QUARTER

Tee Graham connected on a pair of free throws to cut a UNCP deficit back to just one point, 57-56, at the 3:12 mark, but Lele Young's layup on the ensuing possession helped the Lady Hurricanes close out the game with an 11-4 run. The Braves missed their next five attempts from the field after Graham's free throws.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

+ Alecia Hardy scored a team-high 15 points on 4-for-9 shooting from the field. + Se'Dasia Love recorded her first career double-double, scoring 12 points and pulling down 13 rebounds. + Melanie Horne added 11 points and 8 rebounds.

NOTABLES

+ UNC Pembroke scored 34 points in the paint on Wednesday, and held the hosts to just 16 points in the paint. + Georgia Southwestern committed just eight turnovers in the contest, while also forcing 23 by the Braves. + The setback marked UNCP's first loss at Georgia Southwestern since a 66-55 setback to the Lady Hurricanes on Dec. 19, 2016.

UP NEXT

The Braves will close out the non-conference portion of their 2018-19 schedule on December 30 when they face Wingate (6-3) on Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. and admission is free.

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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.