PEMBROKE, N.C. – Visiting Columbus State held the UNC Pembroke women's basketball team to just 12 percent shooting in the first half and got 45 points from its bench on the way to a 74-50 victory over the Braves on Saturday at Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court.
 
It was the second-straight home loss for the Braves (4-10, 3-5 PBC) who fell to 2-4 at Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court this season. The triumph marked the second win in the last three contests for the Cougars (8-5, 5-4) who snapped a four-game road losing streak with the result as well.


 

THE BASICS

SCORE: Columbus State 74, UNC Pembroke 50 RECORDS: UNC Pembroke 4-10, 3-5 PBC; Columbus State 8-5, 5-4 PBC LOCATION: Pembroke, N.C. (Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court)

HOW IT HAPPENED

1ST QUARTER

Tee Graham hit a fastbreak jumper at the 7:37 mark to knot the score at 3-3, but that was the only successful field goal attempt in the first half for the Braves who bridged the first and second quarters with a field goal drought of more than 11 minutes. The Cougars led 19-8 at the end of the first period.

2ND QUARTER

Melanie Horne stopped the field goal drought for the Braves with a jumper at the 6:05 mark that cut the CSU lead back to 10 points, 20-10. The Black & Gold would go 1-for-7 from the field for the remainder of the first half, and the Cougars carried a 34-13 advantage into the locker rooms.

3RD QUARTER

UNCP surpassed its first-half scoring total with 16 points in the third quarter, but the Cougars canned two buckets in the last 25 seconds to lug a 55-31 lead into the fourth period.

4TH QUARTER

Columbus State took their largest lead of the day, 57-31, on Aryan Dozier's jumper 32 seconds into the fourth quarter. The Braves shot 41.2 percent from the field in the fourth quarter, but were only able to trim their deficit down to 20 points, 66-46, on Naomi Gilbert's 3-pointer at the 3:29 mark.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

+ ShaNiya Lester scored a team-high 10 points, including a 6-for-7 clip from the charity stripe.  + Se'Dasia Love tallied eight points on the afternoon, while also matching a career-high with four blocks. + Tee Graham turned in an 8-point performance and grabbed four steals.

NOTABLES

+ UNCP has now held all eight of its league opponents to sub-40 percent shooting this season. The Cougars shot just 29.6 percent from the field on Saturday. + Saturday's result marked the fifth-straight home loss to Columbus State. The Braves last tasted victory in the series at home on Jan. 24, 2009, when they beat Columbus State, 71-58.

UP NEXT

The Braves will be back in action on Monday when they take on Georgia Southwestern (8-6, 5-3 PBC). The Black & Gold will tip off at 1:30 p.m. on Diversity & Inclusion Day at Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court.

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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.