PEMBROKE – The UNC Pembroke women's basketball team held 10^th-ranked North Georgia women's basketball team to its worst offensive day in seven years on the way to a 53-44 victory over the Nighthawks on Saturday afternoon.
 
It was the first win over a top-10 opponent in program history for the Braves (3-7, 2-2 PBC) whose last win over a nationally-ranked opponent, ironically, was a 79-66 win over UNG on Jan. 16, 2017. The setback marked just the second loss of the season for North Georgia (8-2, 3-1 PBC) whose only other setback in 2018-19 came at the hands of then-No. 3 Carson-Newman in November.



 

THE BASICS

SCORE: UNC Pembroke 53, North Georgia 44 RECORDS: UNC Pembroke 3-7, 2-2 PBC; North Georgia 8-2, 3-1 PBC LOCATION: Pembroke, N.C. (Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court)

HOW IT HAPPENED

1ST QUARTER

Tee Graham's 3-pointer with 5:01 remaining in the first quarter set the tone for the UNCP offense and gave the Braves a 9-8 advantage over North Georgia. Both teams traded baskets over the next few minutes, but a layup by Vanessa Agrusa at the buzzer gave the Nighthawks a 17-15 advantage.

2ND QUARTER

North Georgia opened with a quick layup by Livia Skinner to pad their lead out to four points, 19-15, with 9:37 remaining in the half. Both teams suffered a scoring drought for much of the next four minutes, but the silence was broken on Tee Graham's basket with 5:26 remaining that helped the Braves climb to within two points, 19-17. The Nighthawks eventually took a 26-22 advantage into the locker rooms.

3RD QUARTER

UNC Pembroke climbed to within two points on Se'Dasia Love's layup just 17 seconds into the third quarter, but North Georgia took their largest lead of the period, 38-28, off of an Amber Skidgel basket with 35 seconds remaining in the quarter. Avery Locklear responded with a jumper for the Braves with three seconds remaining to cut the deficit back to 38-30.

4TH QUARTER

Aliyah Farmer scored two quick layups for the Black & Gold to whittle UNCP's deficit down to 39-35. Brianna Baham's fastbreak 3-pointer with 7:50 remaining pulled the Braves back to within two points, 39-37. North Georgia took a 44-40 lead with 4:44 remaining off of an Abbie Franklin trey, but UNC Pembroke would go on a 13-0 run to seal the victory.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

+ Tee Graham produced a game-high 14 points, while also pulling down five rebounds and adding four assists. + Aliyah Farmer added 10 points, as well as seven rebounds and two blocks. + Avery Locklear pulled down a game-high eight rebounds, while also adding nine points on the day.

NOTABLES

+ Saturday's result marked UNCP's first victory over a nationally-ranked team since a 79-66 home win over then-No. 17 North Georgia on Jan. 16, 2017. That was the last series win for the Braves heading into Saturday. + Saturday's triumph snapped a three-game series losing streak for the Black & Gold who improved to 8-2 against North Georgia in Pembroke. The Nighthawks snapped a seven-game skid at Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court with a win last season. + Saturday's contest marked the worst offensive game of the season for North Georgia who was held to its fewest points since a 72-44 setback to Clayton State on Jan. 3, 2012. + The Nighthawks shot just 27.8 percent from the field on Saturday – their lowest shooting percentage since turning in a 13-for-57 (.228) shooting performance in a loss at Eckerd on Nov. 24, 2012. + UNC Pembroke outscored North Georgia in the paint, 24-18, picking up 10 of those points in the fourth quarter. The Nighthawks, however, outrebounded the Braves, 44-39. + UNC Pembroke committed a season-low 10 turnovers. The Braves scored 14 points off of 20 North Georgia turnovers – the fourth time this season that the Nighthawks have tallied 20 or more turnovers. +The Black & Gold got 16 points from its bench (4 by North Georgia), including 10 points in 19 minutes by Aliyah Farmer.

UP NEXT

The Braves will continue Peach Belt Conference play on Tuesday when they take on Lander (8-4, 5-1 PBC) on Social Media Night at Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.

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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.